Alabama v. White (1989)
- Docket
- 89-789
- Decided
- 1989-01-01
Summary
Question: Does an anonymous tip alone provide a reasonable suspicion sufficient 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 though 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 Amendment. Justice John Paul Stevens dissented, stating that the majority’s standard allows anyone with enough knowledge of a person’s routine to cause police to search that person. The standard also gives officers too much freedom to claim that they received an anonymous tip to justify any search. Justice William J. Brennan and Justice Thurgood Marshall joined in the dissent.