In a Terry Stop and Frisk, which statement correctly describes a pat-down?

• A. It is limited to outer garments and valid only if there is a safety concern
• B. It may extend to searching interior pockets
• C. It requires a warrant for vehicle stops
• D. It can be conducted on vehicles without any safety concerns

Answer: (A)

A pat-down during a Terry Stop is a brief, protective search of the person’s outer clothing to determine whether they are armed and dangerous. The key point is safety and limits: the frisk is limited to outer garments, not a full body search or rummaging through interior pockets, and it may be conducted only when the officer has a reasonable suspicion that the person is armed. If the officer feels something that could be a weapon, it may be seized; but the search itself remains limited to checking for weapons. Warrants aren’t required for a lawful frisk, and a frisk isn’t justified simply by a vehicle stop without the safety concern. This is why the statement describing the pat-down as limited to outer garments and contingent on a safety concern is the best description.