Anonymous Neighbor Calls 911 to Report You’re a Lousy Driver: Can Police Search Your Car?

By Todd Richissin

When the U.S. Supreme Court handed down its decision Tuesday on affirmative action policies at Michigan colleges and universities, largely lost in the reporting that day was another decision that could directly impact far more people.

That is, the high court ruled that if police receive an anonymous 911 tip about erratic driving, they can pull over the called-about vehicle and question and even search the driver.

The court has long held that officers can make stops based on anonymous tips, but only if the information in those tips provide enough detail to give rise to a reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.

Which raises the question:

• Is it right that police can pull over a car based on an anonymous tip? Tell us what you think in comments below.