Can police stop a college student in Alabama without a reason?
Short Answer: No. Police generally need reasonable suspicion before making an investigative stop. At the moment of the stop, the police officer determines whether he/she has reasonable suspicion, not the person being stopped. Remember that. You argue in COURT not in the street.
Explanation: Under the Fourth Amendment and Terry v. Ohio, police must have specific, articulable facts suggesting criminal activity before stopping someone for investigation. Alabama’s stop-and-identify statute, Ala. Code § 15-5-30, also requires reasonable suspicion that the person is committing, has committed, or is about to commit a felony or other public offense. A student walking near campus, leaving a bar, or being out late is not enough by itself.
