In the context of vehicle stops, what did the Delaware v. Prouse case establish?

In the context of vehicle stops, what did the Delaware v. Prouse case establish?

• A. Checking registration is allowable under all circumstances
• B. Stopping a car for license checks is often lawful
• C. Detaining a driver for license/registration checks is unreasonable
• D. Police can stop any vehicle at their discretion

Answer: (C)

The Delaware v. Prouse case established that detaining a driver for license and registration checks without reasonable suspicion is considered unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment. The Supreme Court ruled that a police officer must have specific and articulable facts that provide reasonable suspicion to believe that a driver is violating the law before conducting a stop for a license check. This decision emphasized the need for a legitimate reason for stopping a vehicle and rejected the idea of random stops based solely on the discretion of law enforcement. The ruling is significant in protecting citizens from arbitrary government actions and ensures that stops are conducted based on credible and specific evidence of wrongdoing.

The Delaware v. Prouse case established that detaining a driver for license and registration checks without reasonable suspicion is considered unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment. The Supreme Court ruled that a police officer must have specific and articulable facts that provide reasonable suspicion to believe that a driver is violating the law before conducting a stop for a license check. This decision emphasized the need for a legitimate reason for stopping a vehicle and rejected the idea of random stops based solely on the discretion of law enforcement. The ruling is significant in protecting citizens from arbitrary government actions and ensures that stops are conducted based on credible and specific evidence of wrongdoing.