A traffic stop is a warrantless seizure within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment and it must, therefore, be reasonable to survive constitutional scrutiny. State v. Stevens, 845 S.W.2d 124, 128 (Mo. App. E.D. 1993). For the duration of a traffic stop, a police officer effectively seizes everyone in the vehicle. Brendlin v. Cal., 551 U.S. 249, 255 (2007).
The circumstances and legal justification for a traffic stop are a critical part of any DWI (driving while intoxicated) or criminal investigation conducted by law enforcement during the investigatory phase of the stop and warrant critical analysis by counsel to ensure that...
