In the context of law enforcement vehicle searches, what is usually required to justify a frisk?

A frisk, often referred to as a "stop and frisk," is a limited search performed by law enforcement officers designed to ensure that a person is not carrying any weapons. This action is predicated on the officer having reasonable suspicion that the individual may be involved in criminal activity and could potentially pose a threat to their safety or the safety of others.

Reasonable suspicion is a lower standard than probable cause, which is necessary for arrests or obtaining search warrants. It is based on the observations an officer makes, taking into account the totality of the circumstances, such as the behavior of the individual, time, place, and any relevant criminal activity in the vicinity. Because the primary purpose of a frisk is the officer's safety, establishing reasonable suspicion suffices to conduct this limited search without requiring the higher threshold of probable cause or a warrant.