Traffic stop

nounStandard termAutomotive

A temporary detention of a vehicle by law enforcement for a suspected violation.

A roadside intervention where police pull over a vehicle to investigate a driving infraction, equipment failure, or suspected crime. In car culture, heavily modified cars, excessive exhaust noise, or illegal tint often trigger equipment-related traffic stops, leading to citations or orders to return the vehicle to compliance.

Heard on the job

He got tagged with a traffic stop for that illegal tint and has to scrape it off before his court date.

Also heard as

  • pull over