The US Supreme Court was asked to review a case out of Virginia which dealt with whether police had the right to pull drivers over based on anonymous tips. The court decided not to hear the case, letting stand a decision in Virginia that requires officers to observe a traffic violation before a stop can be initiated.
Roberts wanted the Supreme Court to review the lower court ruling but he failed to persuade enough of his colleagues. The court declined to hear an appeal from Virginia officials who had their drunk driving conviction of Joseph A. Moses Harris, Jr. thrown out by that state’s Supreme Court. Police were notified by an anonymous tipster that Harris was driving intoxicated, but the arresting officer did not see Harris break any traffic laws.
The majority of the justices did not say why they did not take the case, but Roberts in a written dissent, joined by Justice Antonin Scalia, said the Virginia court’s decision will put people in danger.
“The decision below commands that police officers following a driver reported to be drunk do nothing until they see the driver actually do something unsafe on the road — by which time it may be too late,” Roberts wrote.
What do you think? Should police be required to have probable cause for a traffic stop? Is an anonymous tip enough of a reason for police to pull you over? Comment below.
Read the whole article on CBSNews.com.
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