If you are stopped by the police without reasonable suspicion, you may have a claim for false imprisonment or wrongful detention. A traffic stop is a seizure of your person and is subject to the Fourth Amendment’s requirement that such seizures be reasonable.

If officers did not have reasonable suspicion, any evidence obtained as a result of the stop, such as drugs found in your car, may be suppressed. Here’s what to know about the reasonable suspicion standard and how to get legal help after an arrest.

What Law Enforcement is Allowed to Do

Once an officer has reasonable suspicion that a person has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime, the officer may detain the person for a brief investigatory stop. This means that the officer can temporarily restrict the person’s movements and may also conduct a pat-down search for weapons if there is reason to believe that the person is armed and dangerous.

What Happens If Police Pull You Over Without Reasonable Suspicion?

If you are pulled over without reasonable suspicion, the first thing you should do is ask the officer why you were stopped. If the officer does not have a good answer, you should ask to speak to their supervising officer. It is important to be polite and calm when speaking to law enforcement because anything you say can be used against you in court, even if you are not yet arrested or detained by police.

If you are arrested after being pulled over without reasonable suspicion, you can fight the charges in court. Even if the police have evidence against you, such as drugs or weapons, this evidence may be suppressed if it was obtained through an illegal stop. If successful, this means that the judge will not allow this evidence to be used in court and your case may be dismissed altogether.

How To Get Legal Help After An Arrest

If you are ever pulled over and arrested for DWI, you have the right to defend yourself. An experienced DWI attorney can help you challenge the stop and arrest, and may be able to get the charges against you reduced or even dismissed.

Call Ocean City, Maryland criminal defense attorney Richard Brueckner today for more information or to book a free initial consultation to discuss the legal options available to you at 410-430-1464.