heien north carolina argued october decided december following suspicious vehicle sergeant matt darisse noticed one vehicle brake lights working pulled driver issuing warning ticket broken brake light darisse became suspicious actions two occupants answers questions petitioner nicholas brady heien car owner gave darisse consent search vehicle darisse found cocaine heien arrested charged attempted trafficking trial denied heien motion suppress seized evidence fourth amendment grounds concluding vehicle faulty brake light gave darisse reasonable suspicion initiate stop north carolina appeals reversed holding relevant code provision requires car equipped stop lamp stat ann requires single lamp heien vehicle therefore justification stop objectively unreasonable reversing turn state held even assuming violation state law occurred darisse mistaken understanding law reasonable thus stop valid held darisse mistake law reasonable reasonable suspicion justifying stop fourth amendment pp fourth amendment requires government officials act reasonably perfectly gives officials fair leeway enforcing law brinegar searches seizures based mistakes fact may reasonable see illinois rodriguez limiting factor mistakes must reasonable men brinegar supra mistakes law less compatible concept reasonable suspicion arises understanding facts relevant law whether officer reasonably mistaken one result facts outside scope law neither fourth amendment text precedents offer reason result acceptable reached reasonable mistake law two centuries ago held reasonable mistakes law like fact justify certificate probable cause riddle cranch holding reiterated numerous decisions although riddle fourth amendment case explained concept probable cause said carried fixed well known meaning fourth amendment brinegar supra subsequent decision undermined understanding contrary conclusion hard reconcile recent precedent michigan defillippo addressing validity arrest made criminal law later declared unconstitutional held officers reasonable assumption law valid gave abundant probable cause make arrest heien attempts recast defillippo case solely exclusionary rule fourth amendment defillippo express holding arrest constitutionally valid officers probable cause see heien misplaces reliance cases davis consideration reasonableness limited separate matter remedy whether fourth amendment violation first place heien contends rationale permits reasonable errors fact extend reasonable errors law arguing officers field deserve margin error making factual assessments fly officer may however also suddenly confronted situation requiring application unclear statute holding discourage officers learning law fourth amendment tolerates objectively reasonable mistakes cf whren officer gain advantage poor study finally maxim ignorance law excuse correctly implies state impose punishment based mistake law mean reasonable mistake law justify investigatory stop pp little difficulty concluding officer darisse error law reasonable north carolina vehicle code requires stop lamp also provides lamp may incorporated unit one rear lamps stat ann originally equipped rear lamps must good working order although state appeals held rear lamps include brake lights word coupled lack precedent interpreting provision made objectively reasonable think faulty brake light constituted violation pp affirmed roberts delivered opinion scalia kennedy thomas ginsburg breyer alito kagan joined kagan filed concurring opinion ginsburg joined sotomayor filed dissenting opinion opinion notice opinion subject formal revision publication preliminary print reports readers requested notify reporter decisions washington typographical formal errors order corrections may made preliminary print goes press nicholas brady heien petitioner north carolina writ certiorari north carolina december chief justice roberts delivered opinion fourth amendment prohibits unreasonable searches seizures standard search seizure may permissible even though justification action includes reasonable factual mistake officer might example stop motorist traveling alone vehicle lane discover upon approaching car two children slumped asleep back seat driver violated law neither officer violated fourth amendment police officer reasonable mistake one fact law case officer stopped vehicle one two brake lights later determined single working brake light law required question presented whether mistake law nonetheless give rise reasonable suspicion necessary uphold seizure fourth amendment hold officer mistake law reasonable stop case lawful fourth amendment morning april sergeant matt darisse surry county sheriff department sat patrol car near dobson north carolina observing northbound traffic interstate shortly ford escort passed darisse thought driver looked stiff nervous pulled onto interstate began following escort miles road escort braked approached slower vehicle left brake light came noting faulty right brake light darisse activated vehicle lights pulled escort app two men car maynor javier vasquez sat behind wheel petitioner nicholas brady heien lay across rear seat sergeant darisse explained vasquez long license registration checked receive warning ticket broken brake light records check revealed problems documents darisse gave vasquez warning ticket darisse become suspicious course stop vasquez appeared nervous heien remained lying entire time two gave inconsistent answers destination darisse asked vasquez willing answer questions vasquez assented darisse asked whether men transporting various types contraband told darisse asked whether search escort vasquez said objection told darisse ask heien heien owned car heien gave consent darisse aided fellow officer since arrived began thorough search vehicle side compartment duffle bag darisse found sandwich bag containing cocaine officers arrested men app state charged heien attempted trafficking cocaine heien moved suppress evidence seized car contending stop search violated fourth amendment constitution hearing officers testified state played video recording stop trial denied suppression motion concluding faulty brake light given sergeant darisse reasonable suspicion initiate stop heien subsequent consent search valid heien pleaded guilty reserved right appeal suppression decision app north carolina appeals reversed app initial stop valid held driving one working brake light actually violation north carolina law relevant provision vehicle code provides car must equipped stop lamp rear vehicle stop lamp shall display red amber light visible distance less feet rear normal sunlight shall actuated upon application service foot brake stop lamp may incorporated unit one rear lamps stat ann focusing statute references stop lamp stop lamp singular concluded vehicle required one working brake light heien vehicle indisputably justification stop therefore objectively unreasonable stop violated fourth amendment state appealed north carolina reversed noting state chosen seek review appeals interpretation vehicle code north carolina assumed purposes decision faulty brake light violation concluded several reasons sergeant darisse reasonably even mistakenly read vehicle code require brake lights good working order notably nearby code provision requires originally equipped rear lamps functional quoting stat ann sergeant darisse mistaken understanding vehicle code reasonable stop valid officer may make mistake including mistake law yet still act reasonably circumstances hen officer acts reasonably circumstances violating fourth amendment north carolina remanded appeals address heien arguments suppression issue appeals rejected arguments affirmed trial denial motion suppress app north carolina affirmed turn granted certiorari ii fourth amendment provides right people secure persons houses papers effects unreasonable searches seizures shall violated warrants shall issue upon probable cause supported oath affirmation particularly describing place searched persons things seized traffic stop suspected violation law seizure occupants vehicle therefore must conducted accordance fourth amendment brendlin california parties agree justify type seizure officers need reasonable suspicion particularized objective basis suspecting particular person stopped breaking law prado navarette california slip internal quotation marks omitted question whether reasonable suspicion rest mistaken understanding scope legal prohibition hold text indicates repeatedly affirmed ultimate touchstone fourth amendment riley california slip internal quotation marks omitted reasonable perfect fourth amendment allows mistakes part government officials giving fair leeway enforcing law community protection brinegar recognized searches seizures based mistakes fact reasonable warrantless search home instance reasonable undertaken consent resident remains lawful officers obtain consent someone reasonably appears fact resident see illinois rodriguez token officers probable cause arrest suspect mistakenly arrest individual matching suspect description neither seizure accompanying search arrestee unlawful see hill california limit mistakes must reasonable men brinegar supra reasonable men make mistakes law mistakes less compatible concept reasonable suspicion reasonable suspicion arises combination officer understanding facts understanding relevant law officer may reasonably mistaken either ground whether facts turn thought law turns thought result facts outside scope law reason text fourth amendment precedents result acceptable reached way reasonable mistake fact reached way similarly reasonable mistake law dissent counters cases discussing probable cause reasonable suspicion notably ornelas contained scarcely peep mistakes law post opinion sotomayor surprising course since none cases involved mistake law although recent cases address mistakes law older precedents fact cases dating back two centuries support treating legal factual errors alike context customs statutes enacted congress long founding authorized courts issue certificates indemnifying customs officers damages suits premised unlawful seizures see act mar ch stat courts issue certificates showing officer reasonable cause synonym probable cause challenged seizure ibid see stacey emery riddle cranch riddle customs officer seized goods ground english shipper violated customs laws preparing invoice undervalued merchandise even though american consignee declared true value customs collector chief justice marshall held violation customs law whatever shipper intention consignee actually attempted defraud government nevertheless construction law liable question affirmed issuance certificate probable cause doubt true construction law reasonable cause seizure doubt respecting fact holding reasonable mistakes law like fact justify certificates probable cause reiterated number decisions see friendship cas cc mass story reindeer cas cc ri recorder cas cc sdny civil war numerous cases captured vessel fault true construction law presented even ground suspicion yet captor exonerated acted honest mistake law la manche cas mass riddle progeny directly point chief justice marshall construing fourth amendment certificate probable cause functioned much like finding qualified immunity depends inquiry distinct whether officer committed constitutional violation see carroll carman ante per curiam chief justice marshall nevertheless explaining concept probable cause noted elsewhere cases seizure fixed well known meaning imports seizure made circumstances warrant suspicion locke cranch said phrase probable cause bore fixed well known meaning fourth amendment see brinegar supra riddle illustrates encompassed suspicion based reasonable mistakes fact law decision two centuries since undermined contrary conclusion hard reconcile much recent precedent michigan defillippo addressed validity arrest made criminal law later declared unconstitutional detroit ordinance authorized police officers stop question individuals suspected criminal activity also made offense individual refuse identify produce evidence identity detroit police officers sent investigate report public intoxication arrested gary defillippo failed identify search incident arrest uncovered drugs defillippo charged possession controlled substance michigan appeals ordered suppression drugs concluding identification ordinance unconstitutionally vague defillippo arrest therefore invalid accepting unconstitutionality ordinance given nonetheless reversed time officers arrested defillippo explained controlling precedent ordinance constitutional hence conduct observed violated presumptively valid ordinance acknowledging outcome might different ordinance grossly flagrantly unconstitutional concluded circumstances abundant probable cause satisfy constitutional prerequisite arrest officers wrong concluding defillippo guilty criminal offense declined identify later declared ordinance unconstitutional change fact defillippo conduct lawful officers observed see danforth minnesota officers assumption law valid reasonable observations gave abundant probable cause arrest defillippo although defillippo prosecuted identification ordinance search turned drugs constitutional heien struggles recast defillippo case solely exclusionary rule fourth amendment view officers mistake law resulted violation fourth amendment suppression drugs proper remedy say suppression evidence found defillippo serve none purposes exclusionary rule see literally marginal discussion displace express holding arrest constitutionally valid officers probable cause see contrary heien suggestion either leon illinois gates somehow erase holding transform defillippo exclusionary rule decision see brief petitioner leon said defillippo paid attention purposes underlying exclusionary rule also clarified involv scope rule gates justice white separate opinion joined justice discussed defillippo acknowledged defillippo modify exclusionary rule instead upheld validity arrest opinion concurring judgment heien correct number decisions looked reasonableness officer legal error course considering appropriate remedy constitutional violation instead whether violation see davis slip exclusionary rule illinois krull exclusionary rule wilson layne qualified immunity anderson creighton qualified immunity cases however already found assumed fourth amendment violation officer mistaken view conduct issue give rise violation matter reasonable change ultimate conclusion see brief respondent brief amicus curiae consideration reasonableness officer mistake therefore limited separate matter remedy contrast mistake law relates antecedent question whether reasonable officer suspect defendant conduct illegal violation fourth amendment first place none cases heien dissent cites precludes considering reasonable mistake law addressing question cf herring assuming fourth amendment violation rejecting application exclusionary rule noting hen determination based reasonable mistaken assumptions person subjected search seizure necessarily victim constitutional violation heien also contends reasons fourth amendment allows errors fact extend errors law officers field must make factual assessments fly heien notes deserve margin error heien view margin appropriate questions law statute either requires one working brake light two answer turn anything officer might suddenly confront field brief petitioner heien point consider reality officer may suddenly confront situation field application statute unclear however clear may later become law prohibiting vehicles park either covers segways see scalia garner reading law interpretation legal texts officer nevertheless make quick decision law first time one whizzes contrary suggestion heien amici decision discourage officers learning law fourth amendment tolerates reasonable mistakes mistakes whether fact law must objectively reasonable examine subjective understanding particular officer involved cf whren inquiry forgiving one employed distinct context deciding whether officer entitled qualified immunity constitutional statutory violation thus officer gain fourth amendment advantage sloppy study laws enforce finally heien amici point maxim ignorance law excuse contend fundamentally unfair let police officers get away mistakes law citizenry accorded leeway though argument certain rhetorical appeal misconceives implication maxim true symmetry individual generally escape criminal liability based mistaken understanding law government impose criminal liability based mistaken understanding law law required two working brake lights heien escape ticket claiming reasonably thought needed one law required one sergeant darisse issue valid ticket claiming reasonably thought drivers needed two mistakes law justify either imposition avoidance criminal liability follow justify investigatory stop heien appealing ticket appealing conviction asserted mistake fact law iii little difficulty concluding officer error law reasonable although north carolina statute issue refers stop lamp suggesting need single working brake light also provides stop lamp may incorporated unit one rear lamps stat ann emphasis added use suggests everyday reader english stop lamp type rear lamp another subsection provision requires vehicles originally equipped rear lamps equivalent good working order arguably indicating vehicle multiple stop lamp must functional north carolina appeals concluded rear lamps discussed subsection include brake lights given least reasonable think majority dissent north carolina concluded agree see hudson dissenting calling appeals decision surprising stop lamp provision moreover never previously construed north carolina appellate courts see majority opinion thus objectively reasonable officer sergeant darisse position think heien faulty right brake light violation north carolina law mistake law reasonable reasonable suspicion justifying stop judgment north carolina affirmed kagan concurring nicholas brady heien petitioner north carolina writ certiorari north carolina december justice kagan justice ginsburg joins concurring concur full opinion explains certain mistakes law support reasonable suspicion needed stop vehicle fourth amendment correctly emphasizes fourth amendment tolerates objectively reasonable mistakes law ante makes clear inquiry whether officer mistake law counts objectively reasonable forgiving one employed distinct context deciding whether officer entitled qualified immunity ibid write separately elaborate briefly important first officer subjective understanding irrelevant notes examine ibid means government defend officer mistaken legal interpretation ground officer unaware untrained law means contrary dissenting opinion officer reliance incorrect memo training program police department makes difference analysis hudson dissenting considerations pertain officer subjective understanding law thus help justify seizure second inquiry permits today demanding one courts undertake awarding qualified immunity see tr oral arg solicitor general stating two tests require essentially opposite showings brief respondent making similar point modern qualified immunity doctrine protects plainly incompetent knowingly violate law ashcroft slip quoting malley briggs contrast justice story opinion friendship cas cc mass cited ante suggests appropriate standard deciding legal error support seizure officer takes reasonable view vexata questio different judges ld opposite opinions see brief amicus curiae invoking language make point without latin test satisfied law issue doubtful construction reasonable judge agree officer view friendship tasked deciding whether officer mistake law support seizure thus faces straightforward question statutory construction statute genuinely ambiguous overturning officer judgment requires hard interpretive work officer made reasonable mistake solicitor general made point oral argument statute must pose really difficult hard question statutory interpretation tr oral arg indeed north carolina solicitor general agreed cases exceedingly rare brief respondent tr oral arg analysis sergeant darisse interpretation north carolina law issue appropriately reflects principles explains see ante statute requires every car highway stop lamp singular stat ann statute goes state stop lamp modern terminology brake light may incorporated unit one rear lamps suggesting stop lamp qualifies rear lamp ibid emphasis added statute mandates every car originally equipped rear lamps good working order emphasis added north carolina appeals dealt statute conflicting signals one way deciding brake light rear lamp one needs work easily take officer view deciding brake light rear lamp car comes equipped one modern cars must working order critical point statute poses quite difficult question interpretation sergeant darisse judgment although overturned much recommend therefore agree traffic stop conducted violate fourth amendment sotomayor dissenting nicholas brady heien petitioner north carolina writ certiorari north carolina december justice sotomayor dissenting course correct ultimate touchstone fourth amendment reasonableness riley california slip broad statement simply sets standard apply conducts inquiry whether fourth amendment violated define categories inputs courts consider assessing reasonableness search seizure must independently justified case requires us decide whether police officer understanding law input reasonableness inquiry whether inquiry instead takes law given assesses officer understanding facts fixed legal yardstick hold determining whether search seizure reasonable requires evaluating officer understanding facts actual state law accordingly reverse judgment north carolina respectfully dissent contrary holding common ground heien seized within meaning fourth amendment seizure comports constitution officers articulable reasonable suspicion heien breaking law ornelas explained principal components determination events occurred leading stop search decision whether historical facts viewed standpoint objectively reasonable police officer amount reasonable suspicion probable cause described kind determination mixed question law fact issue whether facts satisfy relevant statutory constitutional standard put another way whether rule law applied established facts violated quoting swint matters said facts viewed objectively reasonable officer rule law officer conception rule law even officer reasonable misunderstanding law law result talked leeway officers making determinations focused assessments facts see terry ohio framing question whether facts give rise reasonable suspicion conceded arresting officer state mind factor inquiry except facts knows devenpeck alford emphasis added said satisfy reasonableness requirement generally demanded many factual determinations must regularly made agents government always correct always reasonable illinois rodriguez emphasis added scarcely peep cases suggest officer understanding conception anything facts relevant framing reasonableness inquiry focused officers understanding facts justified large part based recognition officers generally superior position relative courts evaluate facts significance unfold words leeway afford officers factual assessments rooted recognition police officers operating field make quick decisions see also understanding police officers expertise dra inferences mak deductions might well elude untrained person cortez officers evaluate unfolding circumstances deploy expertise draw conclusions human behavior much way jurors factfinders ibid emphasis added said legal exegesis meaning law probabilistic way factual determinations rather notion law definite knowable sits foundation legal system cheek courts officers best position interpret laws enunciation reasonableness inquiry justification thus always turned officer factual conclusions officer expertise respect factual conclusions neither hinted taking account officer understanding law reasonable otherwise ii departing tradition means eroding fourth amendment protection civil liberties context protection already worn traffic stops like issue annoying frightening perhaps humiliating terry see delaware prouse nevertheless held officer subjective motivations render traffic stop unlawful whren assumed whren officer acts pretext least pretext violation actual law see discussing three provisions district columbia traffic code parties accepted officer probable cause believe violated giving officers license effect seizures long attach reasonable view facts reasonable legal interpretation misinterpretation suggests law violated significantly expands authority cf barlow pet story scarcely law admit ingenious doubt one wonders citizen seeking structure behavior avoid invasive frightening humiliating encounters addition human consequences including communities relationships police permitting mistakes law justify seizures perverse effect preventing delaying clarification law approach courts need interpret statutory language instead simply decide whether officer interpretation reasonable indeed case arisen north carolina announced rule north carolina appeals occasion interpret statute issue similarly courts eighth circuit circuit include police mistakes law reasonableness inquiry observed need decide interpretive questions approach see result bad citizens need know rights responsibilities bad police benefit clearer direction cf camreta greene slip recognizing importance clarifying law course law enforcement system function without permitting mistakes law justify seizures one least argue permitting much necessary evil seen persuasive argument law enforcement unduly hampered rule precludes consideration mistakes law reasonableness inquiry indication excluding officer mistake law reasonableness inquiry created problem law enforcement overwhelming number circuits adopted approach officer makes stop good faith turns case officer wrong law proscribed required know penalty officer suffer see hudson dissenting observing officers rightfully face punishment stop based mistake law moreover officer likely defense civil suit basis qualified immunity see ashcroft slip qualified immunity gives government officials breathing room make reasonable mistaken judgments open legal questions often case evidence may seized stop suppressed thanks exception exclusionary rule police errors see davis slip true unlike north carolina provide exception matter state law see state carter north carolina recognizes may solve remedial problems may perceive see stat ann statutory exception fundamentally remedial concern protections offered fourth amendment meant yield accommodate remedial concerns jurisprudence draws sharp analytica distinct ion existence fourth amendment violation remedy violation davis slip short nothing case law requiring us hold reasonable mistake law justify seizure fourth amendment quite bit suggesting opposite also see nothing gained holding much lost iii reaching contrary conclusion makes serious legal practical errors legal side barely addresses ornelas cases frame reasonableness inquiry around factual determinations instead support conclusion reasonable suspicion arises combination officer understanding facts understanding relevant law ante emphasis added first reaches customs statutes cases applying statutes concedes however cases directly point say nothing scope fourth amendment instead equivalents qualified immunity jurisprudence civil damages ante link tenuous chain constructs cases one anything say fourth amendment brinegar see ante opinion brinegar actually says probable cause exists facts circumstances within officers knowledge reasonably trustworthy information sufficient warrant man reasonable caution belief offense committed quoting carroll thus uncontroversial proposition inquiry looks reasonableness officer understanding facts indeed brinegar odd case rely given like cases discussed subsequently emphasizes mistakes must reasonable men acting facts leading sensibly conclusions probability emphasis added reasonable understandings facts reasonable understandings law looks decision michigan defillippo fourth amendment case reading imagines holding rooted logic opinion held defillippo officer probable cause support arrest even though ordinance allegedly violated later held michigan appeals unconstitutional explained officer conducted arrest observed conduct criminalized presumptively valid law time conduct see th time arrest course controlling precedent ordinance constitutional hence conduct observed violated presumptively valid ordinance noted wrong officer enforce law situation see police charged enforce laws unless declared unconstitutional society police officers took upon determine laws constitutionally entitled enforcement defillippo thus involve police mistake rather defillippo involved police officer correctly applying law existence carried presumption validity contrast police stopped heien suspicion committing offense never actually existed given holding defillippo relied squarely existence law criminalizing defendant conduct presumption validity attends actual laws hardly said control law ever actually criminalized heien conduct practical side primarily contends officer may confront situation field application statute unclear ante one left wonder however innocent citizen made shoulder burden seized whenever law may susceptible interpretive question moreover fails reconcile belief fourth amendment gives officers leeway address situations application criminal statute may unclear prior assumption fourth amendment give officers leeway rely statute authorizes police conduct may violate fourth amendment see illinois krull engage analytic consequences north carolina similar concession mean claim officer mistaken understanding fourth amendment support seizure understanding reasonable brief respondent clear officer mistaken understanding laws viewed differently appreciate endeavored set bounds types mistakes law thinks qualify reasonable think set reasonable mistakes law narrowly circumscribed countenanced convinced done clear way seems difference qualified immunity reasonableness standard insists without elaboration apply conception reasonableness context remains undefined prove murky application see ante fear unwillingness sketch fuller view makes mistake law reasonable presages likely difficulty courts applying decision case mind administrable approach one consistent precedents principles hold officer mistake law matter reasonable support individualized suspicion necessary justify seizure fourth amendment respectfully dissent footnotes dissent contends tolerance mistakes law cases like riddle result specific customs statute congress enacted post citing apollon wheat story relevant portion apollon however addressed effect probable cause gave rise emphasis added see finding unnecessary decide whether probable cause existed circumstances case constitute valid defence justice story understandably cite riddle discuss tolerance mistakes law anywhere apollon footnotes note addition one kind mistaken legal judgment error contours fourth amendment never support search seizure see ante officer mistaken view conduct give rise fourth amendment violation matter reasonable change ultimate conclusion violation occurred solicitor general explained mistakes requirements fourth amendment violate fourth amendment even reasonable brief amicus curiae see brief respondent stating view footnotes every circuit squarely addressed question held police mistakes law factor reasonableness inquiry see miller mcdonald king nicholson chanthasouxat five agreed see hilton state state louwrens iowa martin kansas dept revenue state anderson state lacasella mont addition north carolina appears provide exception see state marsala dorsey state del gary state state guzman idaho state cline iowa abrogated grounds state turner iowa commonwealth upton mass state canelo state johnson state gutierrez people bigelow commonwealth edmunds state oakes state afana see also people krueger limiting exception situations police warrant fact errs even earlier chain represents riddle cranch containing broad proposition ante justice story explained later case tolerance mistakes law cases like riddle result specific customs statute congress enacted apollon wheat explaining findings probable cause ha never supposed excuse seizure except statute creates defines exemption damages emphasis added