State v. Carter

*23SCHWAB, C. J.

This is an appeal by the state from an order suppressing evidence. The issues presented involve the validity of the stop of an automobile in which defendants were riding, and the intrusiveness of the stop. These issues, in light of the trial court’s findings, require us to reconsider the meaning of an often-used but never-defined term: a "pretext” stop.

I. The Facts

The record presents some problems, noted below. The following facts seem to be agreed upon, or at least not seriously contested.

The morning of October 14, 1976, Officer Miller was informed that some juveniles were…