What is essential to have when stopping a vehicle?

Having reasonable articulable suspicion is essential when stopping a vehicle because it aligns with constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures under the Fourth Amendment. This standard requires an officer to have specific and articulable facts that can lead them to reasonably suspect that a law is being violated or is about to be violated. This could be based on the officer's observations, experience, and training that suggest criminal activity may be occurring.

The requirement is in place to ensure that stops are not arbitrary or without basis, providing a legal justification for the police action. This principle protects both the rights of the individuals being stopped and the integrity of law enforcement actions. Without reasonable articulable suspicion, any stop could potentially lead to a violation of rights and the evidence obtained during such a stop could be deemed inadmissible in court.

While proof of a violation, visual affirmation of identity, and past traffic violations may be relevant in specific contexts, they do not replace the necessity of having reasonable articulable suspicion as the foundational requirement for a lawful vehicle stop.