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The Urbanic Law Firm

Oklahoma city criminal defense attorney Frank Urbanic provides efficient, effective, and relentless representation.

205 W 7th Ave Ste 101C

Stillwater, OK 74074

405-633-3420

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pretextual stop

Pretextual stops — or — Why cops can use a minor traffic infraction as an excuse to stop you in hopes they can bust you for another more serious crime

February 27, 2016 by Frank Urbanic

The dictionary on my MacBook Pro defines pretext as "a reason given in justification of a course of action that is not the real reason." Consider the following scenario: If a cop thinks you have pot in your car and wants to stop you, can he use a minor traffic infraction to pull you over? The Supreme Court, in Whren v. United States, says YES. So long as a cop has … [Read more...] about Pretextual stops — or — Why cops can use a minor traffic infraction as an excuse to stop you in hopes they can bust you for another more serious crime

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