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Tuesday, January 18, 2011

What are Pennsylvania's Policies on Police Stops?

OFF THE WIRE
By Sarah Arnette,
eHow Contributor
Police vehicles only pull over vehicles with cause, such as traffic violations or suspicions.

Police stops are frequent occurrences in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Understanding the reasons behind the traffic stop and the actions performed can help to reduce the stress incurred during a Pennsylvanian traffic stop. The actions for and during a police stop are the same regardless of the officer or branch of service, be the officer a member of the city or state police squads.

Reasons
•According to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a police officer can only pull over a vehicle if there is suspicion of a legal discrepancy, such as a failure to obey traffic regulations or if the vehicle appears to be one used in a crime. This is referred to as reasonable suspicion. There are some cases when a police officer may pull over a vehicle simply to inform an individual of a problem with the vehicle or of an item on the vehicle, although this is not as frequent as other police stops.

During the Stop
•During a Pennsylvanian police stop, the officer will request several pieces of vital information. These pieces include a driver's license, current insurance information and vehicle registration. The officer may also request the identification information of the other adult passengers if there are additional adults in the vehicle. If the police stop was due to a suspected driving under the influence, a sobriety test may ensue. During the police stop it is important to shut off the vehicle and to follow the instructions of the police officer at all times. If you are on the road, state law dictates that you are to turn on your hazard lights during the police stop.
Vehicle Searches
•Pennsylvania police do not search vehicles without reasonable cause or suspicion. This suspicion can include an occupant with multiple criminal actions or suspicious activities during the traffic stop. A vehicle search can also occur if a passenger appears to be intoxicated, especially if the intoxicated individual is the driver of the vehicle. A warrant is not needed to search the vehicle if there is reasonable suspicion during the traffic stop, although a warrant is necessary to disassemble the vehicle in a manner that may cause damage to the vehicle, such as checking the dash or to remove the seats during the search.

Read more: What are Pennsylvania's Policies on Police Stops?
eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_7218974_pennsylvania_s-policies-police-stops_.html#ixzz1BDe7DUM8