In New Mexico, what is the term for an officer's authority to stop and question individuals in public spaces?

The correct term for an officer's authority to stop and question individuals in public spaces in New Mexico is known as "stop and frisk."

This practice allows law enforcement officers to briefly stop a person based on reasonable suspicion that the person may be involved in criminal activity. During this encounter, the officer can also pat down the individual's outer clothing for weapons if they have reason to believe the person may be armed and dangerous. The "stop and frisk" procedure is built upon the balancing of individual rights and public safety, with established legal guidelines to ensure the encounter is brief, based on reasonable suspicion, and not a full arrest.

In contrast, "search and seizure" refers to a broader legal concept primarily governed by the Fourth Amendment, which involves law enforcement's ability to search a person or property and take items as evidence. "Civil inquiry" is not a formally recognized term within law enforcement protocols and does not carry the specific legal implications associated with stops for questioning. "Detention," while related, refers more broadly to the act of holding a person in custody, which is typically a more formal process than a simple stop for questioning.