If the odor is emanating from the driver, search scope is limited to whom?

• A. The driver
• B. The vehicle
• C. The passengers
• D. The trunk

Answer: (A)

When the odor is coming from the driver, the cue points the probable source directly to that person. That link narrows the scope of any search or investigation to the driver and the driver’s immediate area, rather than the entire vehicle or its other occupants. This focus helps avoid intruding into parts of the car or other people that aren’t tied to the odor. So the driver is the appropriate focus for the search. The vehicle, passengers, or trunk would require additional justification beyond the odor source.