Under what condition may a peace officer frisk the passenger compartment of a vehicle?

A peace officer may frisk the passenger compartment of a vehicle if they have a reasonable suspicion that weapons are hidden. This is based on the officer's assessment that the presence of weapons poses a risk to their safety or the safety of others. The legal standard of "reasonable suspicion" is vital here; it allows the officer to conduct a limited, protective search for weapons if they believe there is an immediate threat.

This standard stems from the need to ensure the safety of both the officer and the citizens during interactions, especially in potentially volatile situations where individuals may be armed. The frisk is not meant to be a full search for evidence of a crime but a precautionary measure when there is a belief that a weapon could be present.

The other scenarios provided do not meet the legal benchmark required for a frisk. For example, merely suspecting illegal narcotics or observing a driver's nervous behavior does not justify a frisk, as these factors do not inherently indicate a weapon's presence. Similarly, an illegally parked vehicle does not necessarily provide reasonable suspicion of a weapon being in the vehicle.