Oregon Supreme Court Places Limits on Police Questions at Traffic Stops

The Oregon Supreme Court issued a decision late last week that places restrictions on officers' ability to question occupants of vehicles at traffic stops.

The Oregon Supreme Court issued a decision late last week that places restrictions on officers' ability to question occupants of vehicles at traffic stops.

According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, the ruling in the case of State of Oregon v. Mario Arreola-Botello instructs police officers in the state to restrict their questions to topics "reasonably related" to the reason for the traffic stop.

The case stemmed from a traffic stop during which Arreola-Botello was pulled over for failing to signal a turn. During the stop, the officer asked about the presence of drugs or weapons and requested the driver's consent to search the vehicle.

During that search, the officer discovered a package of methamphetamine.

Arreola-Botello's attorney argued that the search of his car was unconstitutional because it was spawned by questions that went outside the scope of what police should be allowed to ask during a routine traffic stop.

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