Search and Seizure

Know Your Rights: Traffic Stop in Minnesota

A quick, printable summary of your rights during a traffic stop in Minnesota, including what you must do, what you can refuse, and how to protect yourself.

State v. Askerooth

Held that the Minnesota Constitution (Art. I, sec. 10) requires application of the Terry framework to evaluate the reasonableness of each incremental seizure during a traffic stop, finding that confining a driver in a squad car was an unreasonable escalation.

State v. Lester

Applied the automobile exception to the warrant requirement in Minnesota, holding that police may search a vehicle and its closed containers without a warrant when they have probable cause to believe the search will reveal evidence or contraband.