A motorist who avoids a checkpoint by turning before it may be stopped under what legal justification?

Turning away from a checkpoint can indeed lead to a stop based on reasonable suspicion. This legal standard is grounded in the idea that law enforcement officers can initiate a stop if they have specific and articulable facts that suggest a vehicle may be involved in criminal activity.

When a motorist deliberately avoids a checkpoint, it can raise concerns for law enforcement that the driver might be trying to evade a police inquiry. The act of turning away can be seen as behavior that piques an officer’s interest and creates a reasonable basis for further investigation.

The reasonable suspicion standard is lower than probable cause, allowing law enforcement to act on their observations and the context of the situation rather than requiring definitive proof of wrongdoing. Therefore, if a vehicle turns away from a checkpoint, it can legally justify a stop based on reasonable suspicion that the motorist might be engaged in illegal activity or attempting to avoid further scrutiny.