What must an officer use to justify a Terry stop based on vehicle observation?

Justification for a Terry stop, particularly in a vehicle context, relies on specific identifiable factors that an officer can observe. This includes traffic violations and observed behavior, which provide the “reasonable suspicion” needed to initiate such a stop.

For instance, if an officer observes a vehicle running a red light or exhibiting erratic driving behavior, these actions directly contribute to the suspicion of potential criminal activity. The law emphasizes that the reason for a Terry stop must be grounded in observable facts rather than vague assumptions or uncorroborated general knowledge.

The other options—good judgment and experience, witness testimonies, and general intelligence—while they may play a role in the broader context of policing, do not satisfy the legal requirement of observable, articulable behavior specific enough to justify such a stop. Thus, they do not fulfill the criteria for reasonable suspicion as effectively as documented traffic violations or observable behavioral patterns do.