October Term 2013 · Docket 12-9490
Can police stop a car based solely on an anonymous tip of reckless driving?
The dispute centers on whether officers need independent verification before stopping a vehicle based on an anonymous report of dangerous driving.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — 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
Mr. Kleven argued that officers must corroborate anonymous tips before making a stop.
Ms. Kovner argued that brief stops based on anonymous tips are reasonable under the Fourth Amendment.
Mr. Laurence argued that officers may act on anonymous tips of reckless driving immediately.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 4-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 4-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-1
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the Fourth Amendment limits on traffic stops. It asks if an anonymous tip alone provides enough probable cause for a brief detention.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-45
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 21, 2014.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 47-19
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to require police to corroborate anonymous tips before stopping a vehicle.
The state wants the Court to allow stops based solely on anonymous tips of reckless driving.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-45
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues that uncorroborated anonymous tips lack the reliability needed to justify a seizure.
The state argues that stopping cars based on anonymous tips serves a critical public safety interest.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-45
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if there is evidence that false anonymous tips are a serious problem.
Justice Alito asked for examples of stops based on tips without observing illegal acts directly.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 4-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 4-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-1
Why it matters
This case defines the balance between public safety and individual liberty during traffic stops. It determines how much evidence police need before detaining drivers. The outcome shapes future interactions between law enforcement and citizens on roads.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-45
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 10, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 9-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 9-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 49-15 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 49-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-31 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 19-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 47-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 29-33 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 29-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 37-1 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 37-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 9-11 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 9-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 63, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 63, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 4-7 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 4-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-5 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 29-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-1 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-1
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 23-45 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 23-45 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 23-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 49, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 49, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 17-31 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 17-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 27-45
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.