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Can cops legally run license plates while driving?
I was stopped at a red light the other day, and when I looked in the rear-view mirror, the cop behind me was looking at my license plate while typing into her computer. Are cops allowed to run license plates while they drive?
Maxine Boyko · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Yes, police officers can check license plates at any time for any reason because your license plate is in public view* This means running your plate is not, by itself, an illegal search or seizure under the Fourth Amendment.
In simpler words: It is not an invasion of privacy. Police officers, like anyone else, are allowed access to public information.
If a police officer wants to make a traffic stop, however, they will need reasonable suspicion of a violation. In this case, the officer is able to scan your plates to check for any existing warrants or suspensions on your record and use them to pull you over.
View full answer
- Gregory R.
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