Rivera

MEMORANDUM **

Leonel Rivera (“Rivera”) appeals his conviction for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 841 (a)(1) and 18 U.S.C. § 2 and conspiracy to do the same in violation of 21 U.S.C. § 846 . Rivera contends that the district court erred when it did not suppress (1) evidence seized during a search of his car and (2) a self-incriminating conversation between Rivera and his co-defendant Robert Mendez Mendoza (“Mendoza”) that was recorded while the two men were waiting in a police car while the police searched Rivera’s car. We reject both contentions and affirm.

Without question, the most difficult issue in this case is whether Officer Charles Hughes’ initial stop of Rivera’s car was constitutionally permissible. Traffic stops are seizures under the Fourth Amendment, 1 so officers must have at least a reasonable suspicion that a traffic violation has occurred when making the decision to stop a vehicle (United States v. Rojas-Millan, 234 F.3d 464, 468-69 (9th *619 Cir.2000)). Reasonable suspicion “is formed by specific, articulable facts which, together with objective and reasonable inferences, form the basis for suspecting that the…