Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Massachusetts

entrapment/ Profiling

Can you tell me if it is legal for a police officer to just run your plates for no reason at all if you are just driving by doing the speed limit safty belts on, and admits there was no reason. Thanks


Asked on 2/17/04, 11:10 am

2 Answers from Attorneys
Barbara C. Johnson Law Office of Barbara C. Johnson

Re: entrapment/ Profiling

In theory, if he had a REASONABLE belief that a crime had been committed, was being committed, or was about to be committed he would have an excuse.

In practice, they "PROBABLY" do it ll the time.

HOW can YOU prove it??

If you are in a minority class, profiling would come into play.

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Answered on 2/17/04, 11:16 am
Regina Mullen Legal Data Services, PLC

Re: entrapment/ Profiling

It is absolutely legal for them to run your plates. What they CAN'T do is stop you for no reason. usually, therefore, what they do is make up a reason (failure to signal, etc.) which is easy to allege and hard to disprove.

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Answered on 2/17/04, 6:13 pm


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