The Florida Supreme Court, weighing a certified question regarding conflicting DCA rulings, has determined that K-9 units can order a suspect to exit a vehicle during a drug sweep.

“We hold that binding Fourth Amendment precedent permits a K-9 officer arriving midway through a lawful traffic stop to command the driver to exit the vehicle for officer safety before conducting a lawful vehicle sweep,” the ruling states.

The 5-1 ruling, State of Florida vs. Joshua Lyle Creller, No. SC2022-05245, was issued May 23.