Document: 529 U.S. 266120 S.Ct. 1375246 L.Ed.2d 254 NOTICE: This opinion is subject to formal revision before publication in the preliminary print of United States Reports. Readers are requested notify Reporter Decisions, Supreme Court States, Washington, D. C. 20543, any typographical or other errors, order that corrections may be made goes press.FLORIDA, PETITIONERv.J. L. No. 98 1993. SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES Argued February 29, 2000 Decided March 28, CERTIORARI TO FLORIDA Syllabus After an anonymous caller reported Miami-Dade Police a young black male standing at particular bus stop and wearing plaid shirt was carrying gun, officers went saw three males, one whom, respondent J. L., shirt. Apart from tip, had no reason suspect illegal conduct. The did not see firearm observe unusual movements. One frisked seized gun his pocket. who then almost 16, charged under state law with concealed without license possessing while age 18. trial court granted motion suppress as fruit unlawful search. intermediate appellate reversed, but Florida quashed decision held search invalid Fourth Amendment. Held: An tip person not, more, sufficient justify police officer's frisk person. officer, for protection himself others, conduct carefully limited weapons outer clothing persons engaged where, inter alia, officer reasonably concludes light experience criminal activity afoot question armed presently dangerous. Terry v. Ohio, 392 1, 30. Here, officers' suspicion weapon arose their own observations solely call unknown location by caller. lacked indicia reliability provide reasonable make stop: It provided predictive information therefore left means test informant's knowledge credibility. See Alabama White, 496 325, 327. contentions amicus reliable because it accurately described L.'s visible attributes misapprehend needed stop. here issue requires its assertion illegality, just tendency identify determinate also declines adopt argument standard analysis should modified "firearm exception," which alleging would even if accusation fail pre-search testing. facts this case do require speculate about circumstances danger alleged might so great e.g., report bomb showing reliability.727 So. 2d 204, affirmed. Ginsburg, J., delivered unanimous Court. Kennedy, filed concurring opinion, Rehnquist, joined. Opinion Justice Ginsburg 1 presented whether is, We hold not. I 2 On October 13, 1995, gun. App. Pet. Cert. A-40-A-41. So far record reveals, there audio recording nothing known informant. Sometime after received does say how long two were instructed respond. They arrived six minutes later males "just hanging out [there]." Id., A-42. three, A-41. firearm, threatening otherwise A-42-A-44. approached told him put hands up on stop, him, second individuals, against whom allegations been made, found nothing. 3 time "10 days shy 16th birth[day]," Tr. Oral Arg. 6, He moved search, motion. 727 204 (1998). 4 Anonymous tips, stated, generally less than tips informants can form basis only accompanied specific reliability, example, correct forecast subject's " 'not easily predicted' 207 (quoting 332 (1990)). leading observed, such predictions, nor contain qualifying reliability. 2d, 207-208. Two justices dissented. safety public, they maintained, justifies exception" general rule barring investigatory stops frisks bare-boned tips. 214-215. 5 Seeking review Court, State noted State's conflicts decisions courts declaring similar searches compatible See, DeBerry, 76 F.3d 884, 886-887 (CA7 1996); Clipper, 973 F.2d 944, 951 (CADC 1992). certiorari, 528 (1999), now affirm judgment II 6 Our "stop frisk" begin (1968). 7 "[W]here observes leads conclude he dealing dangerous, where course investigating behavior identifies policeman makes inquiries, initial stages encounter serves dispel fear others' safety, entitled others area attempt discover used assault him." 8 In instant case, Unlike informant whose reputation assessed responsible her turn fabricated, Adams Williams, 407 143, 146-147 (1972), "an alone seldom demonstrates veracity," U.S., 329. As we have recognized, however, situations suitably corroborated, exhibits "sufficient investiga-tory stop." confront pointing those 9 asserting woman cocaine predicting she leave apartment building specified time, get into car matching description, drive named motel. Ibid. Standing alone, justified Only observation showed predicted woman's movements, explained, become think tipster inside credit cocaine. 332. Although White became surveillance, regarded borderline. Knowledge person's future movements indicates some familiarity affairs, having necessarily imply knows, particular, hidden contraband. accordingly classified "close case." 10 moderate present essential Court's case. concerning That allegation turned suggest officers, prior frisks, suspecting engaging conduct: reasonableness official must measured what knew conducted All go bare unknown, unaccountable neither explained supplied believing If close surely falls side line. 11 contends description suspect's proved accurate: There really Brief Petitioner 20-21. curiae argument, proposing permitted "when (1) provides illegally (2) promptly verify pertinent details except existence (3) factors cast doubt ." 16. These 12 accurate readily observable appearance sense: will help correctly accuse. Such show has activity. Cf. W. LaFave, Search Seizure §9.4(h), p. 213 (3d ed. 1996) (distinguishing identification, often important contexts, likelihood activity, central anonymous-tip cases). 13 A major advanced essence, exception." Under exception, decline position. 14 Firearms extraordinary dangers sometimes precautions. recognize serious threat criminals pose public safety; Terry's rule, permits protective rather demanding meet higher probable cause, responds very concern. But automatic exception our established rove too far. enable seeking harass another set intrusive, embarrassing targeted simply placing falsely reporting target's carriage Nor could securely confine involving firearms. Several Courts Appeals per se foreseeable people significant amounts drugs guns well. Sakyi, 160 164, 169 (CA4 1998); Dean, 59 1479, 1490, n. 20 (CA5 1995); Odom, 949, 959 (CA6 1994); Martinez, 958 217, 219 (CA8 properly guns, maintain above-cited similarly discretion based narcotics. clarified when critical Amendment satisfied. Richards Wisconsin, 520 385, 393-394 (1997) (rejecting "knock announce" narcotics cases partly "the reasons creating category [of cases] can, relatively easily, applied others," thus allowing swallow rule).* 15 us say, need bear demand constitutionally frisk. officials quarters expectation privacy diminished, airports, Rodriguez, 469 (1984) (per curiam), schools, New Jersey T.L.O., 325 (1985), cannot insufficient elsewhere. 16 Finally, requirement way diminishes prerogative, accord Terry, already legitimately stopped. speak today's authority issue. context, lacking kind contemplated whenever however alleges possession firearm. 17 18 ordered. Notes * At oral petitioner position youth valid, crime 21 carry Fla. Stat. §790.01 (carrying misdemeanor), §790.06(2)(b) (only aged older licensed weapons). contention misses mark. Even assuming arresting sure 21, confident first place. mere fact true, describe mean meeting requirement, more adult. 19 Chief joins, concurring. created suppression hearing, correct. says all necessary resolve join respects. noted, many respecting yet explore cases. When testifies aroused suspicion, frisk, weigh credibility admit evidence pursuant one, aside defendant themselves, observed seizure. telephone different, however; testimony receipt credible, layer inquiry pursued. truly anonymous, placed risk lie impunity. reviewing judge fabrication becomes unacceptable. 22 record, then, holding immediate respondent. came more. notation documentation either voice tracing number. prosecution recounted itself verification presence men describes. 23 seems appropriate sense certain features, supporting narrowing likely class informants, lawful action. feature, recognizes, predicts criminal. others. For unnamed sounds same each tells successive nights occurs night, third night ought treated automatically like us. instance supposed, plausible cures uncertainty surrounding anonymity, justifying proportionate response. data know dispatcher objective believe places anonymity risk, consider factor weighing tip. considered nevertheless sufficiently response driving describes moment and, face face, informs occurring. different Sierra-Hernandez, 581 760 (CA9 1978). 24 Instant identification widely available police, proving unreliable distracting squad cars sent within seconds Voice might, cases, locate false reports Ann. §365.171(16) (Supp. 2000); §817.49 (1994), ability trace identity lends what, years earlier, 25 matters, course, await discussion issues record.

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