Suspicion of Driving Without Insurance Supported Stop

U.S. v. Cortez-Galaviz, --- F.3d ----, 2007 WL 2181518 (10th Cir. July 31, 2007)

There was reasonable suspicion to stop the vehicle based upon a response to the cop’s computer data base query on the vehicle’s license plate, that proof was not found that the vehicle was insured. The data provided the officer was both particularized and objective information suggestive of a traffic violation–driving without insurance. Although the “not found” response was ambiguous, neither was it a “yes” response that the vehicle was insured and thus, further investigation was justified.