Ohio high court says cops can make traffic stops outside their jurisdictions

COLUMBUS (AP) — The Ohio Supreme Court says law enforcement officers have probable cause to make a traffic stop outside their jurisdictions if they observe a traffic violation.

In the unanimous ruling today, the court said such a stop would not violate constitutional protections against unreasonable searches.

The decision reverses an earlier appeals court ruling and reinstates the convictions of two men who were pulled over in 2006 and then convicted of carrying a concealed weapon.

The men had asked a trial court to suppress evidence obtained when an East Canton police officer stopped them just outside his jurisdiction. Officer Mitchell Hershberger made the nighttime stop because the men were driving without headlights.

When Hershberger asked if they had weapons, Adam Jones and Shawn Skropits admitted they did.