During a Terry stop, the frisk is limited to checking for weapons. Which area is the allowed search focused on?

• A. Full body search
• B. Outer clothing
• C. Underwear only
• D. Headgear

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that a Terry frisk is a quick, protective pat-down for weapons and is purposely limited in scope. It’s designed to let an officer check for a gun or other weapon without turning a stop into a full-blown search. Because of that safety-focused purpose, the search is confined to the exterior of the person’s clothing—the outer garments like shirts, jackets, and coats. The officer may feel for a weapon through those outer layers and may seize something that is immediately apparent as a weapon. If nothing is felt, there’s no rummaging into pockets, undergarments, or any deeper search. Full-body searches or exploring areas beneath outer clothing aren’t allowed during a Terry stop.