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Commonwealth v. Chase, J-116-2006

Topic: Motor Vehicle Stop-Reasonable Suspicion for Stop

Summary: Chase argued that the Pennsylvania Legislature acted unconstitutionally by lowering the standard for motor vehicle stops from probable cause to reasonable suspicion. The Supreme Court concluded that 75 Pa.C.S.A. Section 6308(b) is not unconstitutional under the Pennsylvania or United States Constitutions. Further, the Court concluded: “if police can articulate a reasonable suspicion of a Vehicle Code violation, a constitutional inquiry into the officer’s motive for stopping the vehicle is unnecessary.”

http://www.pacourts.us/OpPosting/Supreme/out/J-116-2006mo.pdf