Difference Between Stops And Arrests

There are several differences between stops and arrests. As an exception to the Probable Cause and warrant requirements a stop has to have the underlining basis of reasonable suspicion. At its core a police stop is when an officer stops you from doing anything that you were doing prior and after an officer has observed an individual doing something suspicious. While an arrest is an officer actually taking a person into police custody. If a stop is arbitrary or not supported by reasonable suspicion, probable cause, or another legitimate road safety or traffic management reason it is in violation of the 4th Amendment. (Hall, 2015). The Supreme Court has also held that the validity of a stop is determined by whether there is probable cause exists