Which of the following statements about the search incident to arrest is true?

The statement indicating that the search incident to arrest extends to the entire vicinity of arrest is accurate. This principle means that law enforcement officers are permitted to conduct a search not just on the individual being arrested, but also in the immediate area within their control at the time of the arrest. This can include the area around the person, and depending on the circumstances, could extend to areas where an individual might reach to grab a weapon or destroy evidence.

This principle is grounded in the legal rationales aimed at protecting officer safety and preserving evidence. The courts have upheld the idea that searching the immediate vicinity allows officers to ensure there are no weapons that could harm them and to secure evidence that could be destroyed by the person being arrested.

In contrast, the other choices do not accurately reflect this principle. For instance, searching only the arrested individual would not account for securing the area immediately around them, which could harbor evidence or potential threats. The assertion that a search only permits examining a vehicle but not the trunk misrepresents the scope allowed, as searches related to vehicles can include both the passenger compartment and the trunk under certain circumstances. The notion that it permits only digital searches fails to encompass the broader scope of physical evidence available during such searches. Therefore, option B is