State v. Mendez

In a case where police officers had probable cause to detain a driver of an automobile for a traffic infraction, we must decide the scope of the officers’ authority over the passengers of that automobile. Under article I, *212section 7 of the Washington Constitution with its more extensive protection of private affairs than the federal constitution, we hold an officer has the authority to order the driver of a vehicle detained for a traffic infraction to remain in the vehicle or to leave the vehicle in furtherance of the officers’ need to control the scene of the traffic stop. With respect to the…