What is a requirement for an officer to conduct a vehicle investigative stop?

To conduct a vehicle investigative stop, an officer needs to have reasonable articulable suspicion of either a traffic violation or criminal activity. This standard is less stringent than probable cause, which is required for more serious actions, such as arrests or searching a vehicle. Reasonable articulable suspicion means that the officer must be able to provide specific and objective facts that justify their belief that a person is, was, or will be engaged in criminal activity or a violation of traffic laws.

This standard stems from the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. The rationale behind requiring reasonable suspicion is to allow law enforcement to intervene when they have concrete reasons to believe that something unlawful is occurring, thereby maintaining public safety while also respecting individual rights.

Other choices do not reflect the correct legal standard for a vehicle stop. Probable cause pertains to a higher threshold and is not necessary for a simple traffic stop. Consent from the driver, while it can allow for a stop, is not required for law enforcement to initiate an investigative stop. A reported crime in progress would indeed provide a basis for an officer's actions, but it does not specifically meet the criteria for an investigative stop if the officer independently observes suspicious behavior. Thus, the requirement of reasonable articulable suspicion is