People v. Wells

Opinion

CHIN, J.

We granted this case to consider under what circumstances, if any, police officers may stop a vehicle and detain its driver based solely on an *1081uncorroborated phoned-in tip that accurately describes the vehicle and its location and relates that a possibly intoxicated person is behind the wheel, “weaving all over the roadway.” As we explain, although the law appears somewhat unsettled, the better rule, firmly supported by many cases as well as by considerations of public safety and common sense, is that a limited traffic stop is permitted under such circumstances to confirm the…