Officer Vehicle Exit Authority

Summary

Officers in missouri can ask drivers to exit vehicles during traffic stops for safety reasons, as established by the supreme court case pennsylvania v. Mimms (1977). This ruling allows officers to ensure their safety without needing specific suspicion of danger. If you have concerns about a particular incident, consulting a local attorney may be beneficial.

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what supreme court case has to do with stepping out of the car
The key Supreme Court case related to officers asking individuals to step out of their vehicles is *Pennsylvania v. Mimms* (*). This case established that police officers can order drivers to exit their vehicles during a lawful traffic stop for safety reasons. If you have more questions about this, feel free to ask!
what was this case
The Supreme Court case *Pennsylvania v. Mimms* (*) involved a situation where police officers stopped Harry Mimms for a traffic violation and asked him to step out of his car. When he did, officers noticed a bulge in his jacket, leading to a frisk that uncovered a weapon. The Court ruled that for officer safety, requiring a driver to exit a vehicle during a lawful traffic stop is reasonable, even without specific suspicion that the driver is dangerous.