Frisk is best described as a

• A. A limited pat-down for weapons
• B. A full body cavity search
• C. A search of all belongings
• D. A vehicle search at stop

Answer: (A)

Frisk refers to a stop-and-frisk procedure where an officer conducts a quick, limited pat-down of the outside of a person’s clothing to check for weapons. The goal is immediate safety during a brief detention based on reasonable suspicion, not to search the person’s body or belongings in depth. The scope is intentionally narrow: it’s about detecting weapons, not about uncovering contraband or inspecting all possessions, and it does not involve searching a vehicle. If something is felt that is clearly a weapon, it can be seized; otherwise the frisk ends without further intrusion.