What is the current state of the law in the context of a traffic stop and detention of a defendant?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Ruiz, C084091 (Cal. App. 2018):

Police who observe a traffic violation may stop and detain a defendant to investigate that violation. (Rodriguez, supra, ___ U.S. at pp. ___ [191 L.Ed.2d at pp. 496, 498].) However, such a seizure may "become unlawful if it is prolonged beyond the time reasonably required to complete that mission." (Illinois v. Caballes (2005) 543 U.S. 405, 407 [160 L.Ed.2d 842, 846].) "[T]he tolerable duration of police inquiries in the traffic-stop context is determined by the seizure's 'mission'--to address the traffic violation that warranted the stop, [citation] and attend to related safety concerns, [citation]. [Citations.] Because addressing the infraction is the purpose of the stop, it may 'last no longer than is necessary to effectuate th[at] purpose.' [Citations.] Authority for the seizure thus ends when tasks tied to the traffic infraction are--or reasonably should have been--completed. [Citation.]" (Rodriguez, at p. ___ [191 L.Ed.2d at p. 498.) Such tasks include those

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