Which statement correctly describes the difference between probable cause and reasonable suspicion when issuing a citation?

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Probable cause and reasonable suspicion are two different levels of justification that govern how you act: a stronger standard is needed to charge someone with a crime, while a lower standard allows a brief stop and limited investigation. When it comes to issuing a citation, that’s a charging decision, so you need probable cause—enough facts to lead a reasonable person to believe the person committed the offense. Reasonable suspicion, on the other hand, is sufficient to justify a brief stop or ongoing investigation, not to charge someone with a crime.

So, the statement matches the reality: probable cause supports a charging decision, including issuing a citation; reasonable suspicion supports a brief stop or investigation. An example helps: spotting a driver run a red light can provide probable cause to issue a traffic citation; merely suspecting someone is about to commit a crime wouldn’t justify charging them or issuing a citation, but could justify a brief, investigatory stop to gather more information.