Alabama v.

White

Facts of the case

An anonymous caller told Montgomery, Alabama police that Vanessa Rose White had
cocaine in an attach case in her car. The caller gave certain specific details ab
out the car and White s future movements. Following that tip, police followed Vane
ssa Rose White as she drove from an apartment complex to Doby s Motel Court, where
they pulled her over. When asked, White gave the officers permission to search
her car and an attach case found in the car. Police found marijuana in the case a
nd arrested White. During processing at the police station, officers also found
3 milligrams of cocaine in White s purse. After being charged with possession of m
arijuana and cocaine, White moved to suppress evidence of the drugs. The trial c
ourt denied the motion and White plead guilty. On appeal, the Court of Criminal
Appeals of Alabama reversed the motion, finding that the officers did not have r
easonable suspicion to stop and search White s car. This search violated the Fourt
h Amendment protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Question

Does an anonymous tip alone provide a reasonable suspicion sufficent to stop and
search an individual s car?

Conclusion
Yes. In a 6-3 decision, Justice Byron R. White wrote for the majority, reversing
the lower court. The Court held that the totality of the circumstances provided
a sufficiently reasonable suspicion that White possessed illegal drugs. Even th
ough police had no way to confirm the credibility of the caller, police verified
many allegations made by the caller about White s car and movements. Because the
police had a reasonable suspicion, the search did not violate the Fourth Amendme
nt.
Justice John Paul Stevens dissented, stating that the majority s standard allows a
nyone with enough knowledge of a person s routine to cause police to search that p
erson. The standard also gives officers too much freedom to claim that they rece
ived an anonymous tip to justify any search. Justice William J. Brennan and Just
ice Thurgood Marshall joined in the dissent.