Does a stop for a traffic violation give the police carte-blanche to seize or search a passenger?

"New York", United States of America

The following excerpt is from People v. Finlayson, 103 Misc.2d 957, 427 N.Y.S.2d 341 (N.Y. Cty. Ct. 1980):

A stop for a traffic violation, or justified seizure of that vehicle does not give the police carte-blanche to seize or search a passenger. However, once the vehicle is lawfully stopped, the same standards of scrutiny of police conduct should apply to the passenger as to a defendant encountered on the street. The officer on the street has a right to inquire if he can justify it by articulable facts. People v. DeBour, 40 N.Y.2d 210, 386 N.Y.S.2d 375, 352 N.E.2d 562.

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