city indianapolis et al edmond et argued october decided november petitioner city operates vehicle checkpoints roads effort interdict unlawful drugs respondents stopped checkpoint filed suit claiming roadblocks violated fourth amendment district denied respondents preliminary injunction seventh circuit reversed holding checkpoints contravened fourth amendment held checkpoint program primary purpose indistinguishable general interest crime control checkpoints violate fourth amendment pp rule search seizure unreasonable fourth amendment absent individualized suspicion wrongdoing limited exceptions example upheld brief suspicionless seizures fixed checkpoint designed intercept illegal aliens sobriety checkpoint aimed removing drunk drivers road michigan dept state police sitz also suggested similar roadblock verify drivers licenses registrations permissible serve highway safety interest delaware prouse however never approved checkpoint program whose primary purpose detect evidence ordinary criminal wrongdoing pp latter purpose principally distinguishes checkpoints issue previously approved designed serve purposes closely related problems policing border necessity ensuring roadway safety petitioners state sitz checkpoints ultimate purpose arresting suspected committing crimes securing border apprehending drunken drivers law enforcement activities authorities employ arrests criminal prosecutions pursue goals case rest high level generality little check authorities ability construct roadblocks almost conceivable law enforcement purpose checkpoint program also justified severe intractable nature drug problem gravity threat alone dispositive questions concerning means law enforcement may employ pursue given purpose rather determining whether individualized suspicion required must consider nature interests threatened connection particular law enforcement practices issue checkpoints purpose rationalized terms highway safety concern similar sitz merely likened antismuggling purpose neither whren bond precludes inquiry checkpoint program purposes program justified lawful secondary purposes keeping impaired motorists road verifying licenses registrations authorities able establish checkpoints virtually purpose long also included license sobriety check must determine primary purpose checkpoint program holding alter constitutional status checkpoints approved sitz type checkpoint suggested prouse also affect validity border searches searches airports government buildings need measures ensure public safety particularly acute impair police officers ability act appropriately upon information properly learn checkpoint stop justified lawful primary purpose finally purpose inquiry conducted programmatic level invitation probe minds individual officers acting scene pp affirmed delivered opinion stevens kennedy souter ginsburg breyer joined rehnquist filed dissenting opinion thomas joined scalia joined part thomas filed dissenting opinion city indianapolis et petitioners james edmond et al writ certiorari appeals seventh circuit november justice delivered opinion michigan dept state police sitz held brief suspicionless seizures highway checkpoints purposes combating drunk driving intercepting illegal immigrants constitutional consider constitutionality highway checkpoint program whose primary purpose discovery interdiction illegal narcotics august city indianapolis began operate vehicle checkpoints indianapolis roads effort interdict unlawful drugs city conducted six roadblocks august november year stopping vehicles arresting motorists arrests crimes offenses unrelated drugs edmond goldsmith overall hit rate program thus approximately nine percent parties stipulated facts concerning operation checkpoints indianapolis police department ipd purposes preliminary injunction proceedings instituted checkpoint location police stop predetermined number vehicles approximately officers stationed checkpoint pursuant written directives issued chief police least one officer approaches vehicle advises driver stopped briefly drug checkpoint asks driver produce license registration officer also looks signs impairment conducts examination vehicle outside dog walks around outside stopped vehicle directives instruct officers may conduct search consent based appropriate quantum particularized suspicion officers must conduct stop manner particularized suspicion develops officers discretion stop vehicle sequence city agreed stipulation operate checkpoints way ensure total duration stop absent reasonable suspicion probable cause five minutes less affidavit indianapolis police sergeant marshall depew although technically outside parties stipulation provides insight concerning operation checkpoints according sergeant depew checkpoint locations selected weeks advance based considerations area crime statistics traffic flow checkpoints generally operated daylight hours identified lighted signs reading narcotics checkpoint mile ahead narcotics use prepared stop app pet cert group cars stopped traffic proceeds without interruption stopped cars processed diverted processing sergeant depew also stated average stop vehicle subject processing lasts two three minutes less respondents james edmond joell palmer stopped narcotics checkpoint late september respondents filed lawsuit behalf class motorists stopped subject stopped future indianapolis drug checkpoints respondents claimed roadblocks violated fourth amendment constitution search seizure provision indiana constitution respondents requested declaratory injunctive relief class well damages attorney fees respondents moved preliminary injunction although respondents alleged officers stopped follow written directives agreed stipulation concerning operation checkpoints purposes preliminary injunction proceedings parties also stipulated certification plaintiff class district southern district indiana agreed class certification denied motion preliminary injunction holding checkpoint program violate fourth amendment edmond goldsmith supp divided panel appeals seventh circuit reversed holding checkpoints contravened fourth amendment panel denied rehearing granted certiorari affirm ii fourth amendment requires searches seizures reasonable search seizure ordinarily unreasonable absence individualized suspicion wrongdoing chandler miller suspicion irreducible component reasonableness random drug testing treasury employees von raab drug tests customs service employees seeking transfer promotion certain positions skinner railway labor executives drug alcohol tests railway employees involved train accidents found violation particular safety regulations also allowed searches certain administrative purposes without particularized suspicion misconduct provided searches appropriately limited see new york burger warrantless administrative inspection premises closely regulated business michigan tyler administrative inspection premises determine cause blaze camara municipal city county san francisco administrative inspection ensure compliance city housing code also upheld brief suspicionless seizures motorists fixed border patrol checkpoint designed intercept illegal aliens supra sobriety checkpoint aimed removing drunk drivers road michigan dept state police sitz addition delaware prouse suggested similar type roadblock purpose verifying drivers licenses vehicle registrations permissible none cases however indicate approval checkpoint program whose primary purpose detect evidence ordinary criminal wrongdoing entertained fourth amendment challenges stops two permanent immigration checkpoints located major highways less miles mexican border noted outset particular context constitutional question arose describing detail formidable law enforcement problems posed northbound tide illegal entrants supra problems also focus several earlier cases addressing constitutionality border patrol operations see ortiz found balance tipped favor government interests policing nation borders finding emphasized difficulty effectively containing illegal immigration border also stressed impracticality particularized study given car discern whether transporting illegal aliens well relatively modest degree intrusion entailed stops subsequent cases confirmed considerations specifically related need police border significant factor decision example montoya de hernandez counted one number fourth amendment cases reflect longstanding concern protection integrity border although stops occur border checkpoints located near border served border control function made necessary difficulty guarding border entire length see supra sitz evaluated constitutionality michigan highway sobriety checkpoint program sitz checkpoint involved brief suspicionless stops motorists police officers detect signs intoxication remove impaired drivers road motorists exhibited signs intoxication diverted license registration check warranted sobriety tests checkpoint program clearly aimed reducing immediate hazard posed presence drunk drivers highways obvious connection imperative highway safety law enforcement practice issue gravity drunk driving problem magnitude state interest getting drunk drivers road weighed heavily determination program constitutional see prouse invalidated discretionary suspicionless stop spot check motorist driver license vehicle registration officer conduct case unconstitutional primarily account exercise standardless unconstrained discretion nonetheless acknowledged vital interest ensuring qualified permitted operate motor vehicles vehicles fit safe operation hence licensing registration vehicle inspection requirements observed accordingly suggested uestioning oncoming traffic stops lawful means serving interest highway safety indicated prouse considered purposes hypothetical roadblock distinct general purpose investigating crime state proffered additional interests apprehension stolen motor vehicles drivers influence alcohol narcotics effort justify discretionary spot check attributed entirety latter interest state interest roadway safety ibid also noted interest apprehending stolen vehicles may partly subsumed interest roadway safety ibid observed however remaining governmental interest controlling automobile thefts distinguishable general interest crime control ibid common thread highway safety thus run sitz prouse prouse reveals difference fourth amendment significance highway safety interests general interest crime control iii well established vehicle stop highway checkpoint effectuates seizure within meaning fourth amendment see sitz supra fact officers walk dog around exterior car indianapolis checkpoints transform seizure search see place place exterior sniff automobile require entry car designed disclose information presence absence narcotics see ibid like dog sniff place sniff dog simply walks around car much less intrusive typical search ibid cf turpin rather principally distinguishes checkpoints previously approved primary purpose petitioners concede indianapolis checkpoint program unquestionably primary purpose interdicting illegal narcotics stipulation facts parties repeatedly refer checkpoints drug checkpoints describe operated city indianapolis effort interdict unlawful drugs indianapolis app pet cert addition first document attached parties stipulation entitled drug checkpoint contact officer directives order chief police directives instruct officers dvise citizen stopped briefly drug checkpoint ibid second document attached stipulation entitled drug road blocks contains statistical breakdown information relating checkpoints conducted according sergeant depew checkpoints identified lighted signs reading narcotics checkpoint mile ahead narcotics use prepared stop finally district appeals recognized primary purpose roadblocks interdiction narcotics supp noting parties stress primary purpose roadblocks interdiction narcotics ipd made clear purpose checkpoints interdict narcotics traffic observing city concedes proximate goal catch drug offenders never approved checkpoint program whose primary purpose detect evidence ordinary criminal wrongdoing rather checkpoint cases recognized limited exceptions general rule seizure must accompanied measure individualized suspicion suggested prouse credit general interest crime control justification regime suspicionless stops consistent suggestion checkpoint programs approved designed primarily serve purposes closely related problems policing border necessity ensuring roadway safety primary purpose indianapolis narcotics checkpoint program uncover evidence ordinary criminal wrongdoing program contravenes fourth amendment petitioners propose several ways purpose instant checkpoint program may instead resemble primary purposes checkpoints sitz petitioners state checkpoints cases ultimate purpose arresting suspected committing crimes brief petitioners securing border apprehending drunk drivers course law enforcement activities law enforcement officers employ arrests criminal prosecutions pursuit goals see sitz rest case high level generality little check ability authorities construct roadblocks almost conceivable law enforcement purpose without drawing line roadblocks designed primarily serve general interest crime control fourth amendment little prevent intrusions becoming routine part american life petitioners also emphasize severe intractable nature drug problem justification checkpoint program brief petitioners doubt traffic illegal narcotics creates social harms first magnitude cf von raab law enforcement problems drug trade creates likewise remain daunting complex particularly light myriad forms crime spawns cf montoya de hernandez said various illegal activities lesser degree gravity threat alone dispositive questions concerning means law enforcement officers may employ pursue given purpose rather determining whether individualized suspicion required must consider nature interests threatened connection particular law enforcement practices issue particularly reluctant recognize exceptions general rule individualized suspicion governmental authorities primarily pursue general crime control ends purpose checkpoints rationalized terms highway safety concern similar present sitz detection punishment almost criminal offense serves broadly safety community streets doubt safer scourge illegal drugs respect smaller class offenses however society confronted type immediate threat life limb sobriety checkpoint sitz designed eliminate petitioners also liken anticontraband agenda indianapolis checkpoints antismuggling purpose checkpoints brief petitioners petitioners cite conclusion flow traffic heavy permit particularized study given car enable identified possible carrier illegal aliens supra claim logic even force problem argument logic prevails time vehicle employed conceal contraband evidence crime type connection roadway different close connection roadway safety present sitz prouse indianapolis checkpoints far removed border context crucial difficulty examining passing car important factor validating law enforcement technique employed factor alone justify regime suspicionless searches seizures rather must look closely nature public interests regime designed principally serve primary purpose indianapolis narcotics checkpoints end advance general interest crime control prouse decline suspend usual requirement individualized suspicion police seek employ checkpoint primarily ordinary enterprise investigating crimes sanction stops justified generalized possibility interrogation inspection may reveal given motorist committed crime course circumstances may justify law enforcement checkpoint primary purpose otherwise emergency relate ordinary crime control example appeals noted fourth amendment almost certainly permit appropriately tailored roadblock set thwart imminent terrorist attack catch dangerous criminal likely flee way particular route see exigencies created scenarios far removed circumstances authorities might simply stop cars matter course see happens felon leaving jurisdiction limit purposes may justify checkpoint program rigid set categories decline approve program whose primary purpose ultimately indistinguishable general interest crime petitioners argue prior cases preclude inquiry purposes checkpoint program example cite whren bond support proposition government articulates pursues legitimate interest suspicionless stop courts look behind interest determine whether government primary purpose valid brief petitioners see also cases however control instant situation whren held individual officer subjective intentions irrelevant fourth amendment validity traffic stop justified objectively probable cause believe traffic violation occurred stating inventory search must ruse general rummaging order discover incriminating evidence colorado bertine suggesting absence bad faith lack purely investigative purpose relevant validity inventory search burger observing valid administrative inspection conducted neither warrant probable cause appear pretext gathering evidence violations penal laws whren therefore reinforces principle ubjective intentions play role ordinary fourth amendment analysis treasury employees von raab burger supra michigan tyler camara municipal city county san francisco likewise preclude inquiry programmatic purpose last term bond addressed question whether law enforcement officer violated reasonable expectation privacy conducting tactile examination luggage overhead compartment bus simply noted principle whren rendered subjective intent officer irrelevant analysis petitioners correctly observe analytical rubric bond ordinary fourth amendment analysis whren supra nothing bond suggests extend principle whren situations individualized suspicion lacking rather subjective intent irrelevant bond inquiry precedents required focused objective effects actions individual officer contrast cases dealing intrusions occur pursuant general scheme absent individualized suspicion often required inquiry purpose programmatic level petitioners argue indianapolis checkpoint program justified lawful secondary purposes keeping impaired motorists road verifying licenses registrations brief petitioners case however law enforcement authorities able establish checkpoints virtually purpose long also included license sobriety check reason examine available evidence determine primary purpose checkpoint program recognize challenges inherent purpose inquiry courts routinely engage enterprise many areas constitutional jurisprudence means sifting abusive governmental conduct lawful cf result program driven impermissible purpose may proscribed program impelled licit purposes permitted even though challenged conduct may outwardly similar reasonableness fourth amendment predominantly objective inquiry special needs administrative search cases demonstrate purpose often relevant suspicionless intrusions pursuant general scheme goes without saying holding today nothing alter constitutional status sobriety border checkpoints approved sitz type traffic checkpoint suggested lawful prouse constitutionality checkpoint programs still depends balancing competing interests stake effectiveness program see sitz law enforcement authorities pursue primarily general crime control purposes checkpoints however stops justified quantum individualized suspicion holding also affect validity border searches searches places like airports government buildings need measures ensure public safety particularly acute opinion speak intrusions aimed primarily purposes beyond general interest crime control holding also impair ability police officers act appropriately upon information properly learn checkpoint stop justified lawful primary purpose even action may result arrest motorist offense unrelated purpose finally caution purpose inquiry context conducted programmatic level invitation probe minds individual officers acting scene cf whren supra primary purpose indianapolis checkpoint program ultimately indistinguishable general interest crime control checkpoints violate fourth amendment judgment appeals accordingly affirmed ordered city indianapolis et petitioners james edmond et al writ certiorari appeals seventh circuit november chief justice rehnquist justice thomas joins justice scalia joins part dissenting state use dog according holding annuls otherwise plainly constitutional fourth amendment jurisprudence brief standardized discretionless roadblock seizures automobiles seizures effectively serve weighty state interest minimal intrusion privacy occupants seizures serve state accepted significant interests preventing drunken driving checking driver licenses vehicle registrations nothing record indicate addition dog sniff lengthens otherwise legitimate seizures dissent nowhere found opinion begin blackletter roadblock seizure law principal protection fourth amendment rights checkpoints lies appropriate limitations scope stop roadblock seizures consistent fourth amendment carried pursuant plan embodying explicit neutral limitations conduct individual officers brown texas specifically constitutionality seizure turns upon weighing gravity public concerns served seizure degree seizure advances public interest severity interference individual liberty first applied principles supra approved highway checkpoints detecting illegal aliens balanced formidable interest checking flow illegal immigrants limited objective subjective intrusion motorists objective intrusion stop brief questioning occupants visual inspection car considered limited either vehicle occupants searched likewise subjective intrusion fear surprise engendered motorists nature stop found minimal regularized manner established checkpoints operated visible evidence reassuring motorists stops duly authorized believed serve public interest indeed standardized operation roadblocks viewed markedly different roving patrols unbridled discretion officers field result unlimited interference motorists use highways cf although decision turn checkpoints effectiveness record one consolidated cases demonstrated illegal aliens found percent stopped vehicles see michigan dept state police sitz upheld state use highway sobriety checkpoint applying framework set supra brown texas supra recognized gravity state interest curbing drunken driving found objective intrusion approximately seizure slight turning subjective intrusion noted checkpoint selected pursuant guidelines operated uniformed officers see finally concluded program effectively furthered state interest checkpoint resulted arrest two drunk drivers percent drivers stopped see case follows naturally sitz petitioners acknowledge primary purpose roadblocks interdict illegal drugs fact controlling even accepting conclusion checkpoints issue sitz primarily related criminal law question whether law enforcement purpose support roadblock seizure presented case district found another purpose checkpoints check driver licenses vehicle registrations app pet cert written directives state police officers ook signs impairment use roadblocks look signs impairment validated sitz use roadblocks check driver licenses vehicle registrations expressly recognized delaware prouse roadblocks serve legitimate state interests seriously disputed people arrested offenses unrelated drugs attest edmond goldsmith speculative conclude given district findings written directives actual arrests petitioners operated roadblocks state interest interdicting drugs valid reasons conducting roadblock seizures constitutionally irrelevant petitioners also hoped interdict drugs whren held officer subjective intent invalidate otherwise objectively justifiable stop automobile reasonableness officer discretionary decision stop automobile issue whren turns whether probable cause believe traffic violation occurred reasonableness highway checkpoints issue turns whether effectively serve significant state interest minimal intrusion motorists stop whren objectively reasonable police officers witnessed traffic violations roadblocks objectively reasonable serve substantial interests preventing drunken driving checking driver licenses vehicle registrations minimal intrusion motorists constitutional requirements particular seizure satisfied subjective expectations responsible police officers members city council irrelevant cf scott subjective intent alone make otherwise lawful conduct illegal unconstitutional objective effect state actions privacy individual animates fourth amendment see bond applying whren determine officer conduct amounted search fourth amendment issue state mind objective effect actions objective intrusion valid seizure turn upon anyone subjective thoughts neither constitutional checkpoints serving two important state interests remaining prongs brown texas balancing test easily met seizure objectively reasonable lasts average two three minutes involve search app pet cert subjective intrusion likewise limited checkpoints clearly marked operated uniformed officers directed stop every vehicle manner ibid difference case sitz presence dog already held however sniff test trained narcotics dog search within meaning fourth amendment require physical intrusion object sniffed expose anything contraband items place nothing record indicate dog sniff lengthens stop finally checkpoints success rate arrests offenses unrelated drugs confirms state legitimate interests preventing drunken driving ensuring proper licensing drivers registration vehicles stops effectively serve state legitimate interests executed regularized tral manner minimally intrude upon privacy motorists therefore constitutional ii unwilling adopt straightforward analysis precedents dictate adds new primary purpose test lifted distinct area fourth amendment jurisprudence relating searches homes businesses discussed question answers even posed case given accepted reasons seizures fundamentally whatever sense primary purpose test may make search setting ill suited brief roadblock seizures consistently looked scope stop assessing program constitutionality already rejected invitation apply primary purpose test finds indispensable respondents sitz argued brown texas balancing test proper method analysis regards roadblock seizures respondents argue must showing special governmental need beyond normal need criminal law enforcement balancing analysis appropriate state ha demonstrated special need perfectly plain reading treasury employees von raab cited discussed approval earlier decision way designed repudiate prior cases dealing police stops motorists public highways supra utilized balancing analysis approving highway checkpoints detecting illegal aliens brown texas supra relevant authorities considerations stare decisis aside perfectly plain reason incorporating special needs test roadblock seizure cases seizures automobiles deal neither searches sanctity private dwellings ordinarily afforded stringent fourth amendment protection supra special needs doctrine used uphold certain suspicionless searches performed reasons unrelated law enforcement exception general rule search must based individualized suspicion wrongdoing see skinner railway labor executives drug test search camara municipal city county san francisco home administrative search doctrine permits intrusions person body home areas afforded greatest fourth amendment protection intrusions ne expectation privacy automobile freedom operation significantly different traditional expectation privacy freedom one residence supra utomobiles unlike homes subjected pervasive continuing governmental regulation controls south dakota opperman see also new york class utomobiles justifiably subject pervasive regulation state cardwell lewis one lesser expectation privacy motor vehicle function transportation seldom serves one residence repository personal effects lowered expectation privacy one automobile coupled limited nature intrusion brief standardized nonintrusive brief seizure automobile hardly compared intrusive search body home thus special needs inquiry serves define limit permissible scope searches brown texas balancing test serves define limit permissible scope automobile seizures extrinsic limitations upon roadblock seizures newfound primary purpose test unnecessary secure fourth amendment rights bound produce litigation purpose given seizure police designing highway roadblocks never sure validity since jury might later determine forbidden purpose exists roadblock stops identical one upheld sitz years ago one upheld years ago may challenged grounds concealed forbidden purpose efforts enforce law public highways used millions motorists obviously necessary society opinion today casts shadow assumed basis stare decisis perfectly lawful activity conversely indianapolis police assigned different purpose activity way changed done ground individual motorists might well valid see ante primary purpose test simply serve proxy anything fourth amendment concerned automobile seizure context petitioners program complies decisions regarding roadblock seizures automobiles addition dog sniff add length intrusion stop stops consistent fourth amendment reverse decision appeals city indianapolis et petitioners james edmond et al writ certiorari appeals seventh circuit november justice thomas dissenting taken together decisions michigan dept state police sitz stand proposition suspicionless roadblock seizures constitutionally permissible conducted according plan limits discretion officers conducting stops convinced sitz correctly decided indeed rather doubt framers fourth amendment considered reasonable program indiscriminate stops individuals suspected wrongdoing respondents however advocate overruling sitz reluctant consider step without benefit briefing argument reasons given chief justice believe cases compel upholding program issue therefore join opinion footnotes chief justice dissent erroneously characterizes opinion resting application primary purpose test post opinion nowhere describes purposes sitz checkpoints primarily related criminal law enforcement post rather judgment turns fact primary purpose indianapolis checkpoints advance general interest crime control chief justice dissent also erroneously characterizes opinion holding use dog annuls otherwise plainly constitutional fourth amendment jurisprudence post constitutional defect program primary purpose advance general interest crime control petitioners concede primary purpose indianapolis checkpoints narcotics detection need decide whether state may establish checkpoint program primary purpose checking licenses driver sobriety secondary purpose interdicting narcotics specifically express view question whether police may expand scope license sobriety checkpoint seizure order detect presence drugs stopped car cf new jersey search must reasonably related scope circumstance justified interference first place quoting terry ohio michigan clifford plurality opinion footnotes record one consolidated cases indicated stops lasted three five minutes see gloss see ante obvious respondents criminally prosecuted illegally transporting aliens expressly noted nterdicting flow illegal entrants mexico poses formidable law enforcement problems however persuasive distinction opinion impugn continuing validity sitz see ante several courts appeals upheld roadblocks check driver licenses vehicle registrations see mcfayden cadc course looked purpose program analyzing constitutionality certain suspicionless searches discussed part ii infra doctrine never applied seizures automobiles put statistical terms percent motorists stopped arrested offenses unrelated drugs fact distinguishes roadblock seizure automobile inventory search automobile cf colorado bertine automobile inventory search