In re Arturo D

In In re Arturo D. (2002) 27 Cal.4th 60, the California Supreme Court concluded that where a driver has not produced a driver's license or registration when stopped for a traffic violation, an officer may enter the vehicle to conduct a limited search for registration and identification documents. As the court stated, "Limited warrantless searches for required registration and identification documentation are permissible when, following the failure of a traffic offender to provide such documentation to the citing officer upon demand, the officer conducts a search for those documents in an area where such documents reasonably may be expected to be found." (Id. at p. 86) In conducting such a search, the officer need not take the driver's word for it that he or she does not have a license. (Id. at p. 78.)