Which case held that officers may order all occupants out of a vehicle during a stop pending completion?

• A. Maryland v. Wilson
• B. Terry v. Ohio
• C. United States v. Mendenhall
• D. People v. Smith

Answer: (A)

The important idea here is safety during a lawful traffic stop. When a vehicle is pulled over, the stop is still underway, and officers may take steps to control the scene to protect themselves. Maryland v. Wilson holds that an officer may order all occupants of the stopped vehicle to exit the vehicle while the stop is being completed. This rule allows the officer to gain a clearer view of the interior, reduce the risk of hidden threats, and manage the encounter more safely, without turning the stop into a search or arrest.

The action is narrowly tailored to the safety needs created by the stop and the presence of multiple occupants, and it is justified because the stop is already in progress and the intrusion is minimal in relation to the safety gain. Other cases provide context for related issues—such as what counts as a seizure or the general limits of stop-and-frisk—but they do not authorize this specific safety measure during a routine traffic stop in the way Maryland v. Wilson does.