Officers may make stops for suspected violations of even minor illegal acts including ordinances if they have

• A. Probable cause
• B. Reasonable suspicion
• C. A warrant
• D. The officer's personal belief

Answer: (B)

Reasonable suspicion is the standard that justifies a brief stop when an officer suspects a person is involved in criminal activity, even a minor violation or ordinance. It must be based on specific, articulable facts and reasonable inferences drawn from the situation, not a mere hunch. This level of certainty allows the officer to briefly investigate and maintain safety without needing full proof.

If the standard were probable cause, that would be enough to arrest or conduct a broader search, which is a higher bar and not required for a short stop. A warrant isn’t needed for a routine stop or investigation either. And relying on the officer’s personal belief alone isn’t sufficient; there must be objective observations or information that support the suspicion.