State v. Malone

¶ 1. This case is before the court on certification by the court of appeals. The court of appeals asks us to address whether, during a routine traffic stop, a law enforcement officer may request the passengers, as well as the driver, to exit the vehicle and individually ask them questions reasonably related to the nature of the stop.

¶ 2. This certified issue arises in the case of Dona-van W Malone, who was a passenger in a vehicle stopped for speeding. After a series of events, including the questioning of all three occupants of the vehicle, Malone was arrested and the vehicle was searched…