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Stopped on Foot

RSA 594:2 — a stop on reason to suspect, and no arrest for refusing a name alone

A peace officer may stop any person the officer has reason to suspect is committing, has committed, or is about to commit a crime, and may request the person's name and address.

  • RSA 594:2
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Who handles this in New Hampshire: New Hampshire Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service; and legal aid programs and the state offices, listed in the New Hampshire directory.

No arrest for the refusal alone. The officer shall not arrest the person based solely on the person's refusal to provide their name and address.

  • RSA 594:2

An officer questioning a person under that section may search them for a dangerous weapon whenever the officer reasonably believes they might be in danger if the person had one. A weapon found may be kept until the questioning ends, when the officer either returns it or arrests the person.

  • RSA 594:3

A driver has duties of their own at a traffic stop, set by a different section; they are on the traffic stop page.

  • RSA 594:2
Sources for this section (2)
  1. RSA 594:2 — Questioning and Detaining Suspects
  2. RSA 594:3 — Searching for Weapons

Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of October 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed New Hampshire attorney.

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