Point Pleasant, WV asked in Civil Rights, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law and Traffic Tickets for Ohio

Q: Police pulled me over stating they didn't see my temp tag which was legally in the back window but they ran dog after

They admitted as soon as got to car tag was there and legal but then ran the dog shouldn't that have been end of stop right there case they started fishing and also admitted to targeting me for allegations that were given in past that were not ever found to be true

1 Lawyer Answer
James L. Arrasmith
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Answered

A: When the police pull you over and immediately acknowledge that your temporary tag is legal and properly displayed, the reason for the stop should be resolved. At that point, the continued detention and use of a drug-sniffing dog could be seen as extending the stop without reasonable suspicion of a crime. The Fourth Amendment protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, and police generally need a valid reason to continue a traffic stop after the initial reason has been addressed.

Using a dog to search your vehicle after realizing there is no legal violation may suggest the officers were fishing for evidence without proper grounds. If they admitted to targeting you based on past allegations that were never substantiated, this could be perceived as profiling or harassment. Such actions might be grounds to challenge the stop and any evidence obtained as a result.

It's crucial to document everything that happened during the stop, including what was said by the officers and the timing of events. Consider seeking legal advice to explore whether your rights were violated and if there are steps you can take to address this issue. An attorney can help determine if there is a basis for challenging the legality of the stop or any resulting charges.

Dimitrios Makridis agrees with this answer

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