Which allows the seizure of an object during a lawful frisk?

The process of a lawful frisk, or stop and frisk, aims to ensure the safety of an officer by allowing them to briefly pat down an individual if they have reasonable, articulable suspicion that the person may be armed and dangerous. The key element during a frisk is the concept of plain feel.

When an officer conducts a frisk, they are allowed to seize items that they can immediately identify as contraband based on their sense of touch. This means that if an officer feels an object that they recognize as illegal or dangerous—such as a weapon or illegal drugs—they have the legal authority to seize that object. This is rooted in the principle that an officer's training and experience can help them identify certain items without needing to look inside pockets or bags.

In contrast, simply finding a wallet with cash inside does not constitute contraband, as cash is a legal item and would not justify its seizure during a lawful frisk. Similarly, any item found during a pat down would not automatically be subjected to seizure unless it meets the criteria of being immediately identifiable as contraband, and asking an individual to empty their pockets goes beyond the scope of a lawful frisk, which is limited to a pat-down of outer clothing for weapons.