Reasons for a Traffic Stop

If you have ever been pulled over by police while driving you may ask yourself why you were pulled over?  Sometimes you may know the reason such as you know your registration is expired or you know you were speeding, but other times it may not be so obvious.  In order...

Traffic Stop for Lack of Signaling

In North Carolina under G.S. 20-154(a) a driver “before starting, stopping or turning from a direct line shall first see that such movement can be made safely…and whenever the operation of any other vehicle may be affected by such movement, shall give a signal as...

Anonymous tips in NC

On 7/3/2012 the NC Court of Appeals reversed the decision of State v. Harwood regarding an anonymous tip amounting to reasonable suspicion for the police to make a seizure.  In the original decision it was held that police were justified in handcuffing a Defendant...

Dog sniffs in North Carolina

I have done a few blogs here regarding various search and seizure issues, and this week a new topic within this subject arose in North Carolina regarding drug dog “sniffs” during a traffic stop.  A new decision has been handed down this week that says holding someone...