What actions does a Terry Stop involve?

A Terry Stop involves the standard of reasonable suspicion, which means that law enforcement officers must have specific facts or circumstances that lead them to believe a person may be involved in criminal activity. This standard is lower than probable cause, which is required for an arrest. The rationale behind this is to allow officers to briefly detain individuals for questioning when they suspect that those individuals may be engaging in criminal conduct, without needing full evidence that a crime has been committed.

In this context, reasonable suspicion is crucial because it protects individuals' rights while also enabling police to take necessary actions to ensure public safety. The stop must be based on observable behavior or information received that indicates a potential violation of the law, rather than just a hunch or general suspicion.

The other options do not accurately describe the nature of a Terry Stop. Random vehicle selection would not provide the necessary legal basis for the stop, as officers must articulate a reason tied to suspicion of unlawful activity. No prior observation of the driver means that officers would lack the critical context needed to establish reasonable suspicion. Lastly, the enforcement of minor infractions only is misleading because while officers might conduct a Terry Stop in relation to minor infractions, the concept primarily applies to any situation where reasonable suspicion exists, regardless of the severity