KINGSTON, NH — Police are defending a weekend traffic stop after a parent claimed on social media that his teenage daughter was pulled over without cause.
The Kingston Police Department said in a statement that a 17-year-old driver was stopped Saturday morning on Route 125 for multiple legitimate reasons.
A neighboring police department had reported concerns about the vehicle’s operation, specifically citing lane control issues, according to police.
A Kingston officer then observed the vehicle traveling southbound and noted the registration plate was not clearly legible, police said.
New Hampshire law requires registration plates to be properly displayed and readable, giving the officer lawful grounds for the stop, according to the department.
During the investigation, officers discovered the vehicle’s registration had been suspended, police said.
Several occupants, ranging in age from 16 to 17, were not wearing seat belts, according to police.
The driver was unable to produce a driver’s license upon request, police said.
The officer provided verbal warnings and allowed the driver to proceed home rather than towing the vehicle or issuing citations, according to the department.
Police said the officer acted professionally, lawfully and with leniency.
