THIS OPINION HAS NO PRECEDENTIAL VALUE.  IT SHOULD NOT BE CITED OR RELIED ON AS PRECEDENT IN ANY PROCEEDING EXCEPT AS PROVIDED BY RULE 239(d)(2), SCACR.

THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA
In The Court of Appeals

The State of South Carolina,        Respondent,

v.

Andris A. Wright,        Appellant.

Appeal From York County
Lee S. Alford, Circuit Court Judge

Unpublished Opinion No. 2005-UP-494
Submitted August 1, 2005 – Filed August 22, 2005  

AFFIRMED

Acting Deputy Chief Attorney Wanda H. Carter, Office of Appellate Defense, of Columbia, for Appellant.

Attorney General Henry D. McMaster, Chief Deputy Attorney General John W. McIntosh, Assistant Attorney General Deborah R. J. Shupe, Office of the Attorney General, of Columbia; and  Solicitor Thomas E. Pope, of York, for Respondent.

PER CURIAM: Andris A. Wright appeals his conviction for possession with intent to distribute marijuana.  He argues the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress the drugs because the search and seizure violated his Fourth Amendment rights.  We affirm pursuant to Rule 220(b)(2), SCACR, and the following authorities: United States v. Sakyi, 160 F.3d 164 (4th Cir. 1998) (holding that after a lawful traffic stop, an officer having reasonable suspicion that illegal drugs are in a vehicle may order occupants out and pat them down briefly for weapons to ensure the safety of the officer and others, even in the absence of other factors raising safety concerns); State v. Butler, 353 S.C. 383, 577 S.E.2d 498 (Ct. App. 2003) (adopting the Sakyi rule in this state).

AFFIRMED.[1]

GOOLSBY, BEATTY, and SHORT, JJ., concur.

[1] We decide this case without oral argument pursuant to Rule 215, SCACR.