What should an officer do if there is no reasonable suspicion during a traffic stop?

When an officer conducts a traffic stop, they must have reasonable suspicion to justify the stop in the first place. If during the course of the stop it becomes clear that there is no reasonable suspicion—or if any suspicion dissipates—the officer has the duty to let the driver go.

This is based on the legal standards that protect individual rights against unreasonable searches and seizures, as outlined in the Fourth Amendment. If no evidence of wrongdoing is present and the officer lacks justifiable cause to continue the detention, allowing the individual to leave is both a legal requirement and a matter of upholding civil liberties.

The other options do not align with legal standards. Issuing a warning, conducting a search, or requesting identification without reasonable suspicion would not be appropriate, as they imply a level of continued suspicion or action that is not legally justified in the absence of reasonable suspicion.