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

Summary

The court affirmed the denial of Robinson’s motion to suppress, holding that an officer had probable cause to stop his vehicle after observing a visibly broken taillight emitting both white and red light. The court concluded that probable cause required only a reasonable basis to believe a traffic violation may have occurred, not certainty that the driver ultimately violated a statute. Justice Danielson concurred, while Justice Hart, joined by Chief Justice Hannah, dissented on the statutory and factual bases for probable cause.