4th Amendment
2015

United States v. Rodriguez

575 U.S. 348 (2015)

The Supreme Court ruling that anchors one of the POP phrases. Plain-English summary below, with the precise phrase to invoke and when to use it.

Phrase to invoke
"Am I being detained, or am I free to go?"

When to use this phrase Timing

Any time the stop drags past the citation-or-warning window. If you are still parked on the shoulder and the officer has shifted to questions unrelated to the original violation, this is the phrase that forces the question on the record and pins the officer to an answer that has to be supported by independent reasonable suspicion.

The ruling in plain English

The Supreme Court held that an officer may not extend a traffic stop beyond the time reasonably required to address the original traffic violation. Investigative detours — waiting on a K-9 unit, running an unrelated license check, asking questions unrelated to the stop — need their own independent reasonable suspicion. The bright-line rule: no piggy-backing unrelated inquiries onto the original stop just because the driver has not yet received a citation or warning.

United States v. Rodriguez, 575 U.S. 348 (2015)

Use This Phrase During Your Stop

Open Stop Mode on your phone — pinned phrase, recording timer, and live legal context.

Open Stop Mode