October Term 2006 · Docket 06-8120
Does a traffic stop seize the vehicle's passengers?
The dispute centers on whether a passenger is legally seized during a routine traffic stop.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Ms. Campbell argued that flashing lights seize every person in the car.
Mr. Zall argued that the state views the situation as having two components.
justice_questioned_by_souter
justice_questioned_by_alito
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case asks if a passenger is seized when police stop a car.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 23, 2007.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to rule that passengers are seized during stops.
The state wants the Court to rule that passengers are not seized during stops.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-37
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues that activating lights seizes everyone inside the vehicle.
The state argues that the stop targets the driver, not the passenger.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-37
What the justices asked
Justice Souter asked if being in a stopped vehicle means you are seized.
Justice Alito asked if the officer recognized the defendant as a parole violator.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-7
Why it matters
This ruling defines the scope of police authority during traffic stops. It determines when passengers gain Fourth Amendment protections. It clarifies the legal status of individuals in stopped vehicles.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-37
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 3-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 3-7
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 7-33 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 7-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-37
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.