is a citation in lieu of arrest considered an arrest?
Not all detentions by the police amount to an arrest. The police may detain an individual in order to issue a citation, for example, for minor traffic infractions or for some criminal misdemeanors. A citation, once signed by the suspect, amounts to an agreement, in lieu of an arrest, to appear in court at a later date. This temporary detention is permissible but is not considered an arrest (although it may still trigger the police officerâs right to search the suspect, as explained below). How are People Arrested?