Question

During a traffic stop, officers can order passengers as well as the driver to exit the vehicle, even if there is no basis for suspicion that the passengers engaged in any wrongdoing according to:

Answer 1

Maryland v. Wilson.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Supreme Court Case of Maryland v. Wilson in 1997 states that it is lawful for traffic officers to order passengers of a vehicle stopped during a traffic stop. This may be against the Fourth Amendment of the citizen's rights but as the court sees it, the safety of officers was of utmost importance, and thus, the driver as well as the passengers ( if any) can be ordered to exit the vehicle.

This was a result of the case regarding Jerry Lee Wilson who was at the passenger seat of the vehicle when they were stopped at traffic and ordered to step out of the car. Officers noticed his nervous behavior which seemed rather unusual and thus ordered him to exit the vehicle. And when he did that, a good amount of cocaine fell out, he was arrested at the spot with possession of the drug and intention to distribute. So, whether the passengers of a vehicle are liable to be subjected to the same treatment, i.e, ordered to exit the vehicle, is thus deemed valid for the safety of the officers concerned.