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Can an officer run your valid license plate for probable cause to conduct a traffic stop? (Please read entirely)

Traffic Stops 2 views 4 answers
I was pulled over this morning and cited for expired registration. I was unaware that my registration was expired. You see when I renewed my plate, I was given a 2012 sticker, but my registration card was listed as expired on Aug 2011. The valid sticker was affixed on the plate and the plate appears legal. However, the officer would not have know that it was expired WITHOUT running the plate. (As well, had I not been pulled over, I would not have known my registration was hosed up until this coming August.) This has plagued me all day - Can an officer run a valid license plate with NO probable cause? When I was pulled over, I was informed that the reason I was stopped was for an expired registration. The officer provided no other reason for stopping me.

Attorney Answers

4
A Rockefeller ·
Yes, an officer can run a license plate. Why? Because the plate is in public view.
0 upvotes
Christine Mccall ·
Mr. Rockefeller is correct. Some police agencies require that officers in radio cars run a minimum number of plates each shift. Many officers do it whenever they are touring their assigned area, just to stay busy and "connected." If the car is registered to the driver, this practice often results in apprehension on a warrant.
0 upvotes
John Fossum 1657759.Html ·
As the previous posters said, there is no requirement the officer have a reason to run the plate. The plate is there in plain sight, they can run it out of idle curiosity and stop the vehicle based on what they find.
0 upvotes
Michael Rhoades 1843553.Html ·
Yes, absolutely the officer can run your tags. They do it day in and day out. They aren't stopping you or conducting a "search" as defined by law, so they don't need probable cause. Your tags are in plain view. Now if they went into your garage to scan your tags, that would be different.
0 upvotes

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