What action is justified under reasonable suspicion?

Reasonable suspicion allows law enforcement officers to briefly stop and question a person when they have specific, articulable facts indicating that the individual may be involved in criminal activity. This standard is lower than probable cause, which requires a higher level of certainty before more invasive actions can be taken.

In this context, a brief stop and inquiry can occur when an officer observes behavior or circumstances that arouse suspicion. For instance, if an officer notices someone acting suspiciously in a high-crime area, they may stop that person to ask questions and determine whether there are legitimate reasons for their behavior. This type of stop is often referred to as a "Terry stop," named after the Supreme Court case Terry v. Ohio, which established the parameters for stops based on reasonable suspicion.

The other options involve actions that require either a higher standard of proof or are not supported by reasonable suspicion alone. A traffic stop without further inquiry does not meet the parameters of questioning a person for reasonable suspicion. A full search of a vehicle typically requires probable cause, and detaining someone indefinitely would violate their rights and the principles underpinning the concept of reasonable suspicion, which only allows for a temporary stop.