Originally Posted by
Firebug4
There is no set time frame. It is entirely dependent upon the circumstances. You can make that statement anytime you wish. However, the officer will decide if you are free to go or not. You as the detainee will not get to determine if you have been detained long enough. If you feel that you have been detained longer than necessary be sure to bring it up to you lawyer after the fact and a court will decide long after the incident. During the encounter, right or wrong, the officer makes that decision, He or she may have to defend it in court later but at that time the officer controls the detention.
FB
Actually I did further research and it depends on the state - some states have legal limits for detention, others do not. Some states with limits allow the detention to morph into an arrest if it's not finished by the limit - which benefits the detainee as an arrest adds additional rights.
I'd like to compile a list of states that have set limits for detentions if I can find the info online.