What factors can an officer consider to initiate a stop?

An officer can initiate a stop based on personal knowledge and suspicious conduct because these factors provide a reasonable basis for concern or suspicion that a crime may be occurring or about to occur. An officer's training and experience inform their assessment of behavior that may indicate criminal activity. For instance, if an officer observes someone acting unusually nervous in a high crime area or engaging in behavior that is typically associated with criminal activity, this would constitute reasonable suspicion.

While other factors such as time of the year, weather conditions, or the presence of multiple individuals in an area might be relevant in some circumstances, they do not, on their own or in combination, provide the specific, articulable suspicion necessary to justify a stop. Prior criminal records, while potentially informative for an officer, cannot be the sole basis for initiating a stop without accompanying suspicious conduct. Therefore, personal knowledge and observed behavior are key components in the decision to stop an individual.