In which 1991 US Supreme Court case is it ruled that specific probable cause allows the stop and search of a container in a vehicle?

The correct answer is based on the ruling made in California v. Acevedo, which established important principles regarding searches of containers within vehicles during a lawful stop. In this case, the Supreme Court ruled that if law enforcement officers have probable cause to believe that a container inside a vehicle contains evidence of a crime, they may search that container without obtaining a warrant. This ruling streamlined the process for law enforcement, providing them with clear authority to act when they have specific probable cause.

The significance of this decision lies in its emphasis on the nature of probable cause and how it applies to the entirety of a vehicle, as well as specific containers within that vehicle. This means that officers do not need to establish separate probable cause for each item or container; rather, the probable cause regarding the vehicle as a whole suffices for the search of any containers within. This ruling balances the needs of law enforcement against the rights of citizens, ensuring that searches are justified and reasonable.

Understanding this ruling is essential as it highlights the legal standards and protections involved in searches related to vehicle stops, emphasizing the importance of probable cause in law enforcement procedures.