Officer Decision Backed Up By Court

The Ohio Supreme Court upholds the constitutionality of a police officer’s vehicle stop…based on the car’s color not matching vehicle-registration records. The court ruled 6-1 the officer had a reasonable suspicion of criminal activity based on his experience that such a discrepancy often meant a vehicle was stolen. At issue was a 2016 traffic stop in Washington Court House involving a black SUV with a license plate registered to a white SUV. The driver was later arrested for not having a valid driver’s license and having a warrant out for his arrest.