Legal Question in Traffic Law in Virginia

Requirements to Pull Over

With the understandment that a police officer can run anyone's tags for any reason, can the police officer pull anyone over due to suspicion of what pulls up on the screen when they run the tags? In my situation as an example, my license is suspended with restriction to school/work travel, but frequently my Dad will drive my vehicle and i was wondering that if the police officer ran my tags, could he pull me over just to ''check'' if I'm the one driving or would my Dad have to commit a traffic offense in order to be pulled over? I'd appreciate the answer very much-Victor


Asked on 2/13/08, 11:53 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Requirements to Pull Over

Yes, if the officer has reasonable suspicion to believe that you're the person operating the vehicle who has conditions placed upon your operator's license, he could legally pull you over to check to see whether those conditions are being complied with.

However, such an officer would not have such reason to stop your father (in my opinion) merely because he's operating a vehicle which happens to be registered to you unless

he(your father) had committed a violation which would give rise to the probable cause necessary for such a stop.

Read more
Answered on 2/13/08, 1:24 pm


Related Questions & Answers

More Traffic Law questions and answers in Virginia