State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Appellant v. Mark Dunbar, Defendant-Respondent

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey held that police officers need not have reasonable suspicion to conduct a drug‑sniffing canine during a lawful traffic stop, so long as the sniff does not extend the stop beyond the time required to address the traffic violation, and it reversed the Appellate Division’s suppression ruling, remanding for factfinding on whether the sniff prolonged the stop and whether any independent suspicion justified any delay.