During a vehicle frisk, what part of the vehicle can law enforcement officers search?

During a vehicle frisk, law enforcement officers are typically authorized to search the passenger compartment of the vehicle. This includes areas where a person might hide weapons or contraband that could pose a risk to officer safety. The passenger compartment is the area where the driver and passengers sit, which naturally presents the most immediate concern for an officer conducting a frisk.

While the trunk and other compartments may be searched under certain circumstances, they are not included in a standard frisk unless additional probable cause exists or other specific legal justifications are met. A vehicle frisk is primarily focused on ensuring that there are no immediate threats in the areas most accessible to a person who is inside the vehicle. Hence, the passenger compartment is the correct focus during such a search.