Can a police officer pull my friend over because he didn't look 16 years old?
543922
Of course a police officer can pull someone over if they look underage.  The duty of a police officer is to prevent crimes and enforce the law, one of which happens to be no one under a certain age is allowed to operate a motor vehicle.  The fact that your friend looked like they were under the minimum driving age for your state constitutes probable cause for the officer to investigate.\n\nWhat you don't say in your story is whether or not your friend actually WAS under the age of 16, or whether or not he was committing another driving offense which the officer naturally discovered in the course of his investigation (including if your friend began to exceed the speed limit).\n\nI'm afraid if your friend was driving while underage or breaking another traffic law, the police officer in question probably acted entirely appropriately and you just got caught doing something wrong.\n\nIf your friend wasn't breaking any traffic laws, though, it should not have been an issue.  The police officer should have checked his identification to confirm he was old enough to operate a motor vehicle, made sure the license was genuine, and then allowed the two of you to go on your way (unless you live in one of several states that has laws against minor drivers transporting others in their vehicles, but that goes back to your friend breaking traffic laws).  Officers cannot arbitrarily issue tickets without cause, though, and they are most certainly not allowed to ticket someone for "looking too young" because looking the way you do is not a crime in America.
1124799
18 unless you have permission
684757
The poster above me almost has it right. The police CAN pull you over if they know you don't have a driver's license or it is suspended. They have to have personal knowledge to the fact, such as they have stopped you before or have checked it in the system. They need no other reason after that. It is a misdemeanor to drive without one or with a suspended one.
91531
16 years old.  Not sure about the law.  I know a friend was and EMT and he had to be 16.
626895
You will need to check with local law enforcement.  I found that Iowa has an age of consent listed as 14/16.  This usually means that for the lower age, the man has to be either under 18 or 21, depending on the state.  This was available at the second link I posted.  The first one sometimes crashes, but the information was verified through the first site by the second site.  I recommend them both.  Whatever you do, don't take her across state lines.
144148
no your not legally an adult until your 18 and not only could your parents put him in jail but so can the state because he is messing with a minor.
365316
It's not legal. All police officers, in or out of uniform, have to show ID if asked.
94462
If the cop treated you like crap, he was wrong.  Period.  It happens, but it's still wrong.\n\nSince you have no way to know if your friend was over the legal limit or not (i.e., breaking the law or not), you really are in no position to pass judgement on what the cop did.  You are talking as if you know *for a fact* that your friend was over the limit, and that the only reason he was let go was because the cop knew the guy's dad.  That makes two assumptions that you really can't make.  \n\nBut what you want to know is who to ask questions of.  What questions?  \n\nIf you want to know why he treated you like crap, you can ask me.  Because he's human.  Because if he really did treat you like crap, he was wrong.  Because he might have been having a really crappy day, just like anyone else.  Because of a dozen other reasons, none of which would have justified him taking it out on you, if that's what he did.\n\nIf you want to know why he let your friend go for being under the influence, you have to ask him.  I would like to think it was because your friend wasn't breaking the law (you being "pretty sure" he was over the limit is hardly enough evidence to condemn the cop over).  Might be your friend wasn't drunk enough to be in violation, and the cop figured he'd drop a word to your friend's dad about it and let it go at that.  I've not written tickets to kids before because I knew their parents and knew the kid would pay a much higher price with their parents than with me :)\n\nBut who to ask?  Probably nobody.  I don't think you'd want to talk to the cop, based on the way he treated you (and frankly, if he let your friend go due to the cop's relationship with your friend's dad, he's probably not going to admit that to you anyway).  You could make a formal complaint with his agency, but again...you have no way of knowing your friend was over the limit and if in the cop's professional opinion he was not, end of story.\n\nBottom line: move on.  You might not have been treated fairly or politely, but if there was any wrongdoing you're never going to get anyone to admit it or be able to prove it.  I'm sorry you were left with the experience you were.\n\nEDIT 2/11/06:\n\nIf you really want to talk to someone about it, you can try to talk with the Chief of Police.  If you're just going to walk in there and explain yourself the way you did here, I wouldn't count on too much feedback.  No matter what anyone in your friend's car tells you, it proves nothing as far as anyone's level of intoxication.  There's a legal limit to be guilty of DUI and it might be the cop didn't think your friend was there....maybe had been drinking (which seems obvious enough from your posts), but not necessarily over the limit.  Nobody...not your friend, not the passengers in the vehicle, not you, not me, and without a chemical test not even the cop who made the stop knows for sure if your friend was over the limit.  If the cop thought he was close but not over, it might have been perfectly appropriate to let him go with the comment about knowing his dad. I don't know what state you're in, so I don't know what the laws are there but here in California, the legal limit is .08% for adults.  That means it's legal to drive at an .07%...and there's nothing I can do about an adult driving at .07% because it's not illegal.\n\nThis is getting a little involved and there isn't enough information in your post to be able to comment much more on what might have happened versus what you think happened.  If you want to talk to anyone, you can talk to the Chief or maybe someone at City Hall or whatever the equivalent is in your city or town.  I think you're missing the point here, but I wish you luck if you choose to try and talk to someone about it.
336119
That is not only unacceptable it is unlawful. If you had a child that age would you want ANYONE looking at them in that manner? Good for you for turning him in! If he is still free and still doing it to your knowledge CONTINUE to notify authorities. Do not let up. He has a problem.
706642
When I was MUCH younger my boyfriend and I were messing in a parked car when all the sudden a bright light shined in the window. It was a police officer. He was nice enough to turn his back while we dressed. All the boyfriend could say is------but we didn't go all the way to the cop. I guess he was concerned because he was 25 and I was a minor. Then the cop asked for the registration for the car so I opened the glove box to get it and out fell an opened bottle of whiskey. The boyfriend got a ticket for parking in the park after hours and we both got a lecture/warning. The next day my father asked me how my evening was and wasn't his friend officer ***** a nice guy.    Handled with much difficulty then but think it's funny now. Nothing lasts forever.
878431
If the Officer was driving around in his vehicle it would be illegal. The officer is subject to the same laws as we are not to mention that this is dangerous for anyone else on the road. However if he is parked offside the road of course he can have his lights off while radaring people. \nIt is not entrapment the Officers lights off is not forcing you to speed. I'm sure if he had is headlights on and was offside the road alot of people would still speed by.
617558
no!!!! ur a minor. he could get arrested! unless he's ur cousin or something.
828468
It clearly states "under 16".\n\nYou are not under 16.\n\nJust make sure you have your ID on you for his sake.
1023965
If you want a serious answer, this is it.  I have worked in Law Enforcement for 15 years and this is one of the more mundane types of contact the police have.  DON'T LIE!!!!!.  If you know you were speeding say so IF ASKED.  Be polite and don't make excuses, the officers have heard them all and know when you are lying.  Don't give the officer grief, after all this is his job and depending on how fast you were going you may have be a hazard to yourself and others.  A ticket is not the end of the world and in most places if you do not receive multiple tickets you can get it dismissed by taking a safe driving course.  Remember the roadways are for everyone so be safe and allow others to be safe also.  Good Luck!
714784
No, that's statutory rape. Legally, a minor is not old enough to consent.
961054
Hypothetically, he may run your plates and harass you, pull you over, do vehicle checks, breath tests or even have a chat to you on your doorstep about the incident.  But more than likely he will do nothing because of a few reasons.\nA- No cop mates to act as "convenient" witnesses to whatever you did\nB- Police are professionals, and unless you assaulted him or someone else etc etc, he is "off duty".\nC- No offence, because I understand your hypothetical position, and it was a great question ( i do mean that) but police get given daily jobs/assignments, and probably have bigger fish to fry.\n\nGood Luck " )
917487
a cop can pull you over for anything... they can say your left back tire looks like it has less air than the others... but to search it, they can only do if your kids gives them permission or they have a warrant