Q: Is it legal for police to stop vehicle for license plate lights not working -they do work, stopping too long, slowing?
Radar at 20 - 24 in 55 (unsure exactly, but either coming to stop, or accelerating from stop), stopping too long at stop sign (5 - 10 seconds (7)), and claims license plate lights non functional was the reason for stop. They may be dim, but ARE fully functional.
A: Is it reasonable for police to stop a vehicle for license plate lights not properly working, excessive waiting at stop sign and driving significantly slower than the posted speed limit.
A:
If police stopped your vehicle for a non-functioning license plate light, but your lights are working, you may have grounds to question the validity of the stop. While police can stop a vehicle if they believe it is violating traffic laws, such as malfunctioning lights or excessive stopping, the reasons they give must align with what actually occurred.
If you were driving at a low speed, like 20-24 mph in a 55 mph zone, and either slowing down to stop or just starting to move, this could be interpreted as reasonable behavior depending on the circumstances. Stopping too long at a stop sign can sometimes draw attention, but if you believe your stop was within a reasonable time frame, this too can be questioned.
It might be beneficial to gather any evidence that supports your case, such as witness statements, dashcam footage, or photos of your functioning lights. If you believe the stop was not justified, consider your options for contesting any citations issued as a result.
A: Police can lawfully stop a driver if they observe a violation, or facts amounting to "reasonable, articulable suspicion of criminal activity." Since Minnesota laws requires a working plate light, lack of one can be a lawful basis for a stop. If working, but police claim the contrary, a defense witness (perhaps a mechanic) could testify at a Contested Omnibus Hearing as to the facts, perhaps supplemented by photos, video, and ohmmeter evidence. Claims of "driving too slow" alone would not be "reasonable, articulable suspicion of criminal activity." More context would be needed to support such a claim. Same for "stopping too long at a stop sign." The defense can file motions to suppress and dismiss, along with a demand for a Contested Omnibus Hearing, to show the judge evidence and request dismissal.
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.
