What should police do if they suspect a vehicle's occupants are armed during a stop?

When police suspect that the occupants of a vehicle are armed during a stop, their primary concern is to ensure their safety and the safety of others. The correct course of action in this scenario is to frisk the occupants and search the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

The rationale for this approach is grounded in the "Terry v. Ohio" decision, which established the notion of a limited search, or "frisk," for weapons when an officer has a reasonable belief that a person may be armed and dangerous. This applies during vehicle stops as well. The goal of the frisk is to ensure that the officers remain safe by checking for any immediate threats while also maintaining the balance of individual rights against the government's duty to protect public safety.

Searching the passenger compartment is also justified as it allows officers to check for any potential threats that are not immediately visible. This step is proportional to the officers’ safety concerns in a situation where the presence of weapons is suspected.

In contrast, simply restraining the driver does not adequately address the safety concerns with all occupants. Conducting a full body search for weapons may exceed what is legally permissible without further cause, and calling for additional police support may delay necessary action when immediate safety measures can be taken. Therefore, the combined approach of