What is the main purpose of conducting "Terry" stops?

The main purpose of conducting "Terry" stops, which stem from the Supreme Court case Terry v. Ohio, is to check for potential weapons. These stops are considered a form of stop-and-frisk, where law enforcement officers have the authority to briefly detain a person based on reasonable suspicion that they may be involved in criminal activity and may pose a threat to officer safety or the safety of others.

When an officer conducts a Terry stop, they may perform a limited pat-down of the individual to ensure they are not carrying any weapons. This is primarily motivated by the officer's concern for safety rather than a full search for evidence of a crime. The aim is to quickly assess if the individual could potentially harm the officer or others, thereby justifying the brief detention and limited search for weapons.

Other options, while potentially related to police interactions, do not encapsulate the primary legal rationale behind Terry stops. Collecting evidence or investigating minor traffic violations would require a different standard or context than what is provided under the parameters of a Terry stop. Issuing citations is also typically related to distinct legal proceedings and would not be the primary aim of the initial stop, which is focused on safety and the presence of weapons.