Baldwin v. Reagan

SULLIVAN, Justice.

The plaintiffs contend that the Indiana Seatbelt Enforcement Act authorizes the police to stop motorists in violation of their state constitutional rights against unreasonable searches and seizures. We agree that the police may not enforce the seat belt law in violation of these constitutional rights. In this opinion, we hold that an Indiana police officer may not stop a motorist to enforce the seat belt law unless the officer observes circumstances that would cause an ordinary person to agree that the driver or passenger is not wearing a seat belt. However, because the…