Which statement about stop and frisk is correct?

Which statement about stop and frisk is correct?

• A. A frisk is allowed if there is reasonable suspicion the person is armed
• B. A frisk may be conducted after a traffic citation
• C. A frisk requires probable cause to arrest
• D. A frisk can be used to search the entire vehicle

Answer: (A)

The key idea is that a frisk is a protective, limited search conducted during a lawful stop when the officer has reasonable suspicion that the person is armed and dangerous. This is the standard from Terry v. Ohio: if there’s reasonable suspicion of a weapon, the officer may pat down the outer clothing to check for weapons, not to uncover evidence. The option that reflects this—reasonable suspicion the person is armed—is correct because it matches that safety-focused, limited search rule. The other statements don’t fit because a frisk isn’t automatic after a traffic citation; its authority comes from a specific suspicion of danger, not the mere issuance of a citation. A frisk does not require probable cause to arrest; it rests on reasonable suspicion of armed danger, not on probable cause to arrest. And a frisk is not a vehicle search; it covers only a terse check of the person for weapons, while searching a vehicle requires additional justification such as probable cause or another exception.

The key idea is that a frisk is a protective, limited search conducted during a lawful stop when the officer has reasonable suspicion that the person is armed and dangerous. This is the standard from Terry v. Ohio: if there’s reasonable suspicion of a weapon, the officer may pat down the outer clothing to check for weapons, not to uncover evidence. The option that reflects this—reasonable suspicion the person is armed—is correct because it matches that safety-focused, limited search rule.

The other statements don’t fit because a frisk isn’t automatic after a traffic citation; its authority comes from a specific suspicion of danger, not the mere issuance of a citation. A frisk does not require probable cause to arrest; it rests on reasonable suspicion of armed danger, not on probable cause to arrest. And a frisk is not a vehicle search; it covers only a terse check of the person for weapons, while searching a vehicle requires additional justification such as probable cause or another exception.