Legal Definitions - stop

Definition: A stop is a temporary restraint that prevents a person from walking away. This is a legal term used under the Fourth Amendment.

Example: A police officer stops a person on the street and asks to see their identification.

Explanation: In this example, the police officer has temporarily restrained the person from walking away by stopping them on the street. The officer is allowed to do this under certain circumstances, such as if they have reasonable suspicion that the person has committed a crime or is about to commit a crime.

Example: A security guard stops a shoplifter from leaving the store.

Explanation: In this example, the security guard has temporarily restrained the shoplifter from walking away by stopping them from leaving the store. This is a form of stop that is allowed under the law to prevent theft or other crimes from occurring.