Who may stop and detain a person operating a motor vehicle to determine if the person has a driver's license as required by this section?

• A. Private citizen
• B. Security guard
• C. Peace officer
• D. Magistrate

Answer: (C)

The key idea is who has the authority to enforce license requirements on the road. A peace officer is the one with the legal power to stop and detain a driver to verify that they hold a valid driver's license and comply with licensing rules. This authority comes from their role in enforcing traffic laws and protecting public safety, including directing vehicles to stop, asking for a driver’s license, and taking enforcement action if needed. Private citizens generally don’t have the authority to stop a moving vehicle for a license check, and attempting to do so can raise legal and safety issues. Security guards may have limited duties and powers, but they do not have broad, general authority to stop and detain motorists on public roads for license verification. Magistrates are judicial officers who preside over court matters, not road enforcement. So the correct answer is the peace officer.