Document: 449 U.S. 411 101 S.Ct. 690 66 L.Ed.2d 621 UNITED STATES, Petitioner,v.Jesus E. CORTEZ and Pedro Hernandez-Loera. No. 79-404. Argued Dec. 1, 1980. Decided Jan. 21, 1981. Syllabus Based on their discovery of sets distinctive human footprints in the desert, Border Patrol officers deduced that a number occasions groups from 8 to 20 persons had been guided by person, whom they designated "Chevron," Mexico across an area desert Arizona, known be heavily trafficked aliens illegally entering country. These proceeded isolated point road picked up vehicle; vehicle probably approached east returned after pickup. They also surmised, based times when tracks were discovered, "Chevron" generally traveled clear nights during or near weekends, arrived at pickup between 2 a. m. 6 On basis this information, stationed themselves probable night believed there was strong possibility would smuggling aliens. The observed truck with camper shell suitable for carrying sizable pass them heading west then same return within estimated time making round trip point. stopped vehicle, which being driven respondent Cortez Hernandez-Loera, who wearing shoes soles matching "chevron" shoeprint, passenger. voluntarily opened door discovered illegal Prior trial charges transporting aliens, respondents sought suppress evidence presence as result stopping contending did not have adequate cause make investigative stop. District Court denied motion, convicted. Appeals reversed, holding lacked sufficient justify thus respondents' Fourth Amendment rights violated. Held : objective facts circumstantial justified stop vehicle. Pp. 417-422. (a) In determining what is authorize police totality circumstances—the whole picture—must taken into account. upon picture detaining must particularized suspecting particular person criminal activity. process assessing all circumstances does deal hard certainties, but probabilities, collected weighed understood those versed field law enforcement. Also, raise suspicion individual engaged wrongdoing. 417-418. (b) This case implicates these principles—especially imperative recognizing that, used trained enforcement officers, facts, meaningless untrained, allow permissible deductions such afford legitimate action suspicion. 418-421. (c) intrusion privacy associated limited "reasonably related scope justification [its] initiation." Terry v. Ohio, 392 29, 88 1868, 1884, 889. picture, experienced agents, could reasonably surmise 421-422. 9 Cir., 595 F.2d 505, reversed. Barbara Etkind, Philadelphia, Pa., petitioner. Bernardo P. Velasco, Tucson, Ariz., S. Jeffrey Minker, Cortez. Chief Justice BURGER delivered opinion Court. 1 We granted certiorari, 447 904, 100 2983, 64 852, consider whether suggesting involved activity may provide * Late 1976, patrolling sparsely populated section southern central Arizona found desert. time, other similar area. From footprints, it occasions, walked north Mexican border, 30 miles mountains, over fairly well-defined path, Highway 86, east-west running roughly parallel border. 3 Officers one recurring shoeprint bore repetitive V-shaped chevron design. Because knew recorded experience through passed country Mexico, surmised gave case-name guiding United States path marked where 4 led obstacles avoided daylight. this, his border night. Moreover, tracks, concluded weekends weather clear. 5 Their tracking disclosed "Chevron's" came 50 75 yards turned right eastward, road. Then, approximately highway milepost 122, turn disappear pattern, very likely approaching east, long overland march group most walk toward pickup, because unlikely walking away its ultimate destination. Sunday January 30-31, 1977, Gray Evans, two Patrolmen pursuing investigation duty Casa Grande latest set made Saturday night, 15-16. 30-31 first three days rain. For reasons, Evans decided lead 7 assumed if conduct he leave until dark, is, about p. sort, traveling foot, cover half hour. Thus, 30-mile journey take 12 hours. calculated arrive 86 somewhere 31. About m., parked patrol car elevated location feet off 149, some 27 122. vantage point, observe Altar Valley, adjoining territory assigned watch see vehicles passing 86. hour Working hypothesis 122 thereafter starting focused and, half, returning east. appeared capable large without arousing reason, certain types commonly limit attention vans, trucks, small campers, motor homes, vehicles. 10 Traffic 149 normal officers' surveillance. 5-hour period 15 west, Only them—both trucks shells—were kind use carry One, distinctively colored shell, 4:30 Officer able record only partial license number, "GN 88-."1 At 6:12 almost exactly later, looking like again, 11 followed satisfied plate, 8804" flashed lights intercepted Respondent Jesus driver owner pickup; Hernandez-Loera sitting passenger's seat. shoeprint. identified told conducting immigration check. asked any passengers camper. hitchhikers, open back camper, six arrested respondents. 13 charged counts violation U.S.C. § 1324(a). By pretrial obtained argued motion. A jury guilty charged. sentenced concurrent prison terms five years each counts. addition, fined $12,000. 14 divided panel Ninth Circuit 505 (1979). That court recognized Brignoni-Ponce, 422 873, 95 2574, 45 607 (1975), provides standard governing stops case, stating: "The quantum necessary . cases [like one] established Brignoni-Ponce '[O]fficers roving are aware specific articulable together rational inferences warrant contain country.' " F.2d, 507 (quoting supra, 884, S.Ct., 2582) (citations omitted). 16 "the question appeal judge's finding founded present here clearly erroneous." 507. Here, because, view judges constituting majority, "[t]he valid singling out vehicle," id., 508, admitted "far too many innocent suspicions warranted," ibid., Cortez' under Amendment. dissent, Judge Chambers persuaded validity permitting officer assess light past experience. II A. 17 applies seizures including brief investigatory here. Reid Georgia, 448 438, 440, 2752, 2753, 65 890 (1980); U.S., 878, 2578; Davis Mississippi, 394 721, 89 1394, 22 676 (1969); 16-19, 1877-1879, 889 (1968). An manifestation be, activity.2 Brown Texas, 443 47, 51, 99 2637, 2640, 61 357 (1979); Delaware Prouse, 440 648, 661, 1391, 1400, 59 660 2581; Adams Williams, 407 143, 146-149, 92 1921, 1923-1924, 32 612 (1972); 1877-1879. 18 Courts variety capture elusive concept person. Terms "articulable reasons" "founded suspicion" self-defining; fall short providing guidance dispositive myriad factual situations arise. But essence has written See, e. g., 2640; 2581. 19 idea assessment yield contains elements, before permissible. First, circumstances. analysis proceeds various observations, information reports, available, consideration modes patterns operation kinds lawbreakers. data, draws makes might well elude untrained probabilities. Long probabilities articulated such, practical people formulated common sense conclusions behavior; jurors factfinders permitted do same—and so officers. Finally, seen library scholars, 21 second element contained just described Warren, speaking said "[t]his demand specificity predicated teaching Court's jurisprudence." Id., n. 18, 1880, (emphasis added). See also, 661-663, 1400-1401; B portrays once both enormous difficulties 2,000-mile patient skills needed halting entry It principles discussed especially can combined form work often suggested scholars examples appropriate reasonable means fact clue afforded brought focus "Chevron." 23 Of critical importance, crossing practice could—by prearrangement—be clues 2-month prior events issue here, guide, pattern operations. 24 piecing disposal, tentatively likelihood attempt Sunday, 30-31. Someone chevron-soled several previous months, yet weeks since crossing. deduced, therefore due soon. tended travel weekend nights. rained Friday weekend; trip. 25 Once drew deduce frame arrive. smuggle activities, sunset occur crossing; how take. 26 highway—milepost 122—at rendezvous direction earlier approach from, to, staked position (at 149) watched going then, hours shoes, enclosed passenger capacity. 28 produced summarized follows: if, travel, sometime east-west-east deserted (milepost 122) (Highway 86), 4-hour meeting description. And surprising aliens.3 C 29 purpose occupants citizenship status reasons timespan virtually No search occurred camper; thus, stop, initiation," 1883. recently held less than arrest search. 880, 2579.4 test conclude Rather whether, they, record, conclude. 31 Reversed. MARSHALL concurs judgment. 33 STEWART, concurring result. 34 knew, rationally repeatedly shepherded border; treks ended early morning around 86; usually worked weekends; no trips weeks; good. Knowing anticipate, even guarantee, arrival another Chevron, late 1977. Route leads uninhabited country, little darkness westbound capacious enough went by. One drove them, opposite elapsed back. nocturnal "desolate terrain" event puzzling. Coming did, surely explanation Chevron again shepherding 35 sum, abundance "specific facts" which, "together [them]," entirely warranted "suspicion vehicl[e] contain[ed] [might] country." 2581, 607. possessed met requirements I concur reversal judgment Appeals. minutes later. As far shows, return. course, grounds believe wanted conduct. 442 884-885, 2581-2582, listed factors considered part existence vel non treating official attempts stem influx our Though list purport exhaustive, noteworthy significant context; example, recent crossings type involved. wide public interest effective measures prevent cataloged Ortiz, 891, 899-914, 2585, 2590, 2597, 623 (1975) (BURGER, C. J., judgment); 878-879, 2578-2579.

Category: 0