traffic stop
noun
plural traffic stops
: an instance of police stopping a driver (as for speeding or a broken taillight)
She was pulled over for a routine traffic stop.
an officer making a traffic stop
Examples of traffic stop in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Officers will sometimes use a felony that occurs during a traffic stop or enforcement interaction as cause to initiate a chase and utilize a PIT maneuver, but if the underlying reason for the interaction wasn’t a violent felony, the move likely shouldn’t be used, Taylor said.
—
Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Sacramento homicide and crime scene detectives were investigating the shooting during a traffic stop in the area of El Camino Avenue and Boxwood Street in Old North Sacramento.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Ruslan, 26, told CNN he was detained during a traffic stop and was not aware of having done anything wrong.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Casada Sorrel, 33, who is known professionally as Sada Baby, was taken into custody in January 2025 during a traffic stop in Sterling Heights on an outstanding warrant.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for traffic stop
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Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Sacramento homicide and crime scene detectives were investigating the shooting during a traffic stop in the area of El Camino Avenue and Boxwood Street in Old North Sacramento.
—Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Ruslan, 26, told CNN he was detained during a traffic stop and was not aware of having done anything wrong.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 27 Mar. 2026
Casada Sorrel, 33, who is known professionally as Sada Baby, was taken into custody in January 2025 during a traffic stop in Sterling Heights on an outstanding warrant.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for traffic stop
Cite this Entry
“Traffic stop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/traffic%20stop. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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