Q: Drug dog violation
I got pulled over for my taillight and during the stop they walked the drug dog down one side of the vehicle and the dog never alerted to anything but they went ahead and pulled us out and detained us. They had no reason to suspect drugs or anything can they do that in oklahoma
Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
- (916) 704-3009
- View Profile
- Answered
A:
In Oklahoma, as in other states, police can use drug-sniffing dogs during traffic stops, but there are legal limits to this practice. The use of a drug dog itself doesn't typically violate your rights, but the duration and manner of the traffic stop can be significant.
The police need reasonable suspicion to prolong a traffic stop beyond the time needed to handle the reason for the traffic stop, such as a broken taillight. If they use a drug dog, it should not unreasonably extend the stop. If the dog does not alert to the presence of drugs, the police generally need additional reasonable suspicion of criminal activity to justify further detaining you and searching your vehicle.
If you believe that your rights were violated during a traffic stop, it's important to document everything about the incident, including the duration of the stop and any interactions with the police. Consulting with an attorney can provide you with specific advice based on the details of your situation. An attorney can help assess whether your rights were violated and what legal actions you can take. Remember, each case is unique and depends on the specific circumstances of the stop and any interactions with law enforcement.
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
