When can an officer perform a traffic stop without probable cause?

A traffic stop can be performed without probable cause when an officer observes a clear violation of traffic laws. This means that if a driver is actively breaking the law—such as speeding, running a red light, or failing to signal—a law enforcement officer does not need any additional evidence or suspicions to initiate a stop. The clear violation itself provides a legal basis for the traffic stop, as it indicates that an infraction has taken place that warrants the officer’s intervention.

In the context of the other options, night time does not inherently give an officer the authority to stop a vehicle without observing a violation, the make of the vehicle alone does not provide reasonable cause for a stop unless it is associated with a specific crime, and roadblocks typically have their own legally defined protocols but may not always apply unless there is a legitimate primary purpose for their establishment.