After lawfully stopping a vehicle, can officers order the occupants to exit the vehicle for safety reasons?

Law enforcement officers have the authority to order occupants out of a vehicle after lawfully stopping it, primarily for officer safety reasons. This is based on the precedent established in Supreme Court decisions, which uphold that the rights of officers to ensure their safety can justify such an action. When officers conduct a traffic stop, they may face unknown threats, and removing occupants from the vehicle allows them to gain better control of the situation and reduces the risk of harm.

It is important to note that this authority does not depend on the officers having a suspicion of criminal activity or the presence of backup; rather, it is a proactive safety measure. Thus, in situations where an officer has lawfully stopped a vehicle, ordering the occupants to exit is justified and within their rights as a means of maintaining safety.