Donnie R. Robinson, Appellant v. State of Arkansas, Appellee

Summary

The court held that the visibly broken taillight on Robinson's vehicle supplied probable cause for the traffic stop because a reasonable officer could believe that a traffic offense had occurred, even though the taillight emitted both red and white light. It affirmed the denial of Robinson's suppression motion and vacated the court of appeals' opinion. Justice Danielson concurred on the ground that the taillight violated the statutory red-light requirement, while Justice Hart, joined by Chief Justice Hannah, would have reversed because the statutes did not clearly prohibit the observed condition.