Q: I was cited a seatbelt ticket and only a seatbelt ticket. Was the officer in the right or wrong?
The officer had no other reason for the stop and no other citation was received is a seatbelt violation considered probable cause for a traffic stop?
A:
Reasonable suspension & plain view - If the officer saw that you were not wearing a seat belt, then, yes, they can conduct a traffic stop and cite you for the infraction for not wearing a seat belt.
Sometimes people say that there is no possible way the officer saw that I was not wearing a seat belt because he was behind me, never to the side, etc. However, it is possible that the officer observed a more serious infraction to justify the stop but then decided to only cite for a lesser charge.
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