Which of the following is an example of exigent circumstances for cell phone searches?

Exigent circumstances refer to situations that allow law enforcement officers to bypass the normal requirement of obtaining a search warrant if they believe that immediate action is necessary to prevent evidence destruction, harm to individuals, or the escape of a suspect. In the context of cell phone searches, these circumstances must justify the urgency of needing access to a phone's data without a warrant.

In a case involving child abduction, the urgency to locate the child or identify the abductor can create exigent circumstances. Officers may need to quickly access a suspect's cell phone to gather vital information that could lead to the child's safe recovery. This includes looking for communications, locations, and contacts that are immediately relevant to the ongoing abduction situation.

The other options, while they may involve urgent situations, do not typically present the same immediacy or potential for loss of life or harm as child abduction does. Traffic violations generally do not imply a need to search a cell phone right away. Theft of a vehicle might warrant an investigation, but it is less likely to involve exigent circumstances that necessitate immediate access to digital evidence. A public disturbance, though potentially urgent, usually doesn't provide a direct link to a need for searching a cell phone without a warrant.