Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) Practice Exam

What does reasonable suspicion allow an officer to explore during a stop and frisk?

1. Full search of the vehicle

2. Investigation of past history

3. Limited pat down for weapons

4. Request for identification

The correct answer is: Limited pat down for weapons

Reasonable suspicion provides law enforcement officers with the legal justification to conduct a limited pat down for weapons during a stop and frisk. This concept is rooted in the need to ensure officer safety when a scenario presents a reasonable belief that an individual may be armed and dangerous. The pat down is a precautionary measure that allows officers to feel the outer clothing of an individual to check for concealed weapons, without conducting a full search or an invasive body search. In contrast, a full search of a vehicle or an investigation of someone's past history would require a higher legal standard, such as probable cause. Additionally, while officers can request identification, this does not directly stem from the concept of reasonable suspicion itself but rather falls under routine procedure during interactions with individuals under reasonable suspicion. Thus, the limited pat down for weapons aligns directly with the purpose and parameters of reasonable suspicion.