What Are My Rights During a Traffic Stop in Minnesota?
Know Your Rights
Playing dumb during a traffic stop in Minnesota is risky business. Unfortunately, not knowing the law is not a defense to breaking the law in Minnesota, even during a traffic stop. This means that you are responsible for knowing the laws in Minnesota, and law enforcement has no obligation to inform you of the law.
Traffic Stop
In Minnesota, if you see flashing lights or hear a siren behind you, you must pull over. Because you must provide your driver’s license and proof of auto insurance upon an officer’s request, it is wise to have them ready to provide to the officer. As a tip, you should always keep your driver’s license and proof of insurance in the same location for easy access.
It is important for people driving in Minnesota to know that law enforcement cannot pull them over without reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.
Providing your driver’s license and proof of insurance is the only information that you have to provide law enforcement during a traffic stop in Minnesota, absent other circumstances.
Constitutional Rights During a Traffic Stop
The 4th Amendment provides you with the right to refuse to a search if the officer does not have a warrant or probable cause to search your vehicle under the automobile exception to the warrant requirement. This means you do not have to consent to having your vehicle searched during a traffic stop, nor should you. The 5th Amendment gives you the right to refuse to answer questions. This means that you do not have to answer questions, nor should you. Answering questions often leads to arrest when the person would otherwise be free to leave. The 6th Amendment grants you the right to have an attorney present during questioning if you have been detained and taken into custody. This means that if you are placed under arrest, you do not have to answer questions without having an attorney present, nor should you.
Call the criminal defense attorneys at RAM Law PLLC at (651) 468-2108 if you have been or are being pulled over, questioned, searched, or arrested.
Contact The Attorneys at Ram Law PLLC for Experienced Criminal Defense
The criminal defense attorneys at RAM Law PLLC use aggressive strategies and tactics to beat criminal charges that stem from traffic stops in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Roseville, Edina, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake, Inver Grove Heights, Lake Elmo, Woodbury, Wayzata, Minnetonka, Maple Grove, Plymouth, Richfield, and Bloomington Minnesota.
Call (651) 468-2108 to discuss your case during a free consultation.