What is the standard of probable cause for a stop by a police officer?

MultiRegion, United States of America

The following excerpt is from USA v. Bayless, 201 F.3d 116 (2nd Cir. 1998):

stop impinges to a lesser extent on Fourth Amendment concerns than does an arrest or search, the stricter standard of probable cause does not apply. See, e.g., United States v. Sokolow, 490 U.S. 1, 7 (1989). As we have also said, "the concept of reasonable suspicion is not susceptible to precise definition." United States v. Glover, 957 F.2d 1004, 1009 (2d Cir. 1992). Nevertheless, it is clear that "some minimal level of objective justification" is required, id. at 1009-10 (quoting Sokolow, 490 U.S. at 7 (quoting INS v. Delgado, 466 U.S. 210, 217 (1984))), and that "inchoate suspicion or mere hunch" will not suffice, id. at 1010. Reasonable suspicion is an objective standard; hence, the subjective intentions or motives of the officer making the stop are irrelevant. See id.

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