A traffic stop is a traffic stop. This does not make any sense. As you say if it is a criminal traffic stop then the guy is already going to jail so who cares. But me thinks that they are actually talking about civil stops.
I tend to side with law enforcement on these vehicle issues as roads are public property and the ability to operate a motor vehicle is regulated.
If the initial traffic stop was legal then verifying the identity of the driver before issuing a ticket is a legitimate law enforcement practice. Pulling people over just to check their prints on the other hand would be clearly unconstitutional.
AGREED!
It is only for criminal traffic, and nothing that's been said in public suggests that they can stop someone without a violation and just take their prints for the hell of it. And I'm typically against any enlarged power for LEO's. It's just a change in policy to use a power they already have. If somebody doesn't think they should have that power, don't attack the policy, get it changed legislatively so the Sheriff's office doesn't have the choice to make.