What does the plain touch doctrine allow an officer to do during a lawful Terry Frisk?

The plain touch doctrine permits an officer to recognize a weapon through touch during a lawful Terry Frisk. This principle arises from the rationale that if an officer is conducting a frisk based on reasonable suspicion, they are allowed to pat down the outer clothing of a suspect to check for weapons for their safety. If, while performing this frisk, the officer feels an object that they immediately recognize as a weapon, they can seize it.

This doctrine emphasizes that the officer's training and experience allow them to identify certain objects by touch alone while working within the scope of the reasonable searches allowed in a Terry stop. The seizure of the weapon is justified because it directly relates to the officer's concern for their safety and the necessity of ensuring that no dangerous objects are present.

Recognizing a weapon through touch is limited to the objective circumstances of a Terry Frisk, meaning the officer can't conduct a comprehensive search, go beyond outer clothing layers, or flexibly interpret the circumstances to search vehicles or broader areas without probable cause.