What was the outcome of Pennsylvania v. Mimms (1977) regarding traffic stops?

In Pennsylvania v. Mimms (1977), the Supreme Court ruled that during a lawful traffic stop, police officers have the authority to order the driver to exit the vehicle. This decision is grounded in the need for officer safety and the manageable risks that arise during a traffic stop. The Court emphasized that the intrusion into the driver's personal liberty is minimal, and the benefits to officer safety outweigh this intrusion.

The ruling clarified that a traffic stop is a seizure under the Fourth Amendment, but it also acknowledged that brief detentions are permissible when they are justified by legitimate safety concerns. Consequently, this case established that the act of ordering a driver out of their vehicle is a reasonable measure that police officers can take during traffic stops to ensure their own safety and that of others.

The other options provided do not accurately reflect the outcome of this case. For instance, the assertion that officers cannot make any demands or that they are limited only to requesting identification does not recognize their right to act decisively for safety. Similarly, the notion that officers must wait for drivers to exit voluntarily fails to acknowledge their legal authority established by the Mimms decision. Thus, option C is the correct understanding of the implications of Pennsylvania v. Mimms.