Traffic Stop Case Law Flashcards
The finding of contraband on the driver’s person (was / was not) probable cause to search the passenger area and trunk.
was
US v Parker
You find drugs on a passenger’s person.
Can you search the car?
Can you search the trunk?
Yes (all parts of the car + all containers within)
Yes
“Once probable cause to search is established, the officer may search the entire vehicle, including the trunk and all containers therein that might contain contraband.” [US v Ross, cited in US v Parker]
“Defendants maintain, however, that corroborating evidence of contraband found on an occupant of a vehicle does not establish probable cause to search the trunk in the same way as does the finding of evidence in the passenger compartment of the vehicle. The District Court rejected that argument. We argree with the District Court.” [US v Parker]
Carroll v US: Police may conduct a warrantless search of a vehicle stopped on traffic if there is ___ ___ to believe the vehicle contains ___ or ____
probable cause
contraband or evidence
Carroll vs US
Maryland v Pringle - In this case, the Def was one of three men riding in a vehicle. Cocaine was found behind the back-seat armrest and ACCESSIBLE TO ALL THREE MEN. All three denied ownership.
Can all three be charged?
YES
Here’s why - “We think it an entirely reasonable inference from these facts that ANY OR ALL of the occupants had knowledge of, and exercised dominion and control over, the cocaine.”
A routine traffic stop (does / does not) rise to the level of “in custody” status for the purpose of the Miranda ruling.
Do you need to give Miranda type warnings to ask consent to search from a person not in custody?
does not (Berkemer vs McCarty)
No (Schneckloth v Bustamonte)
The decision to stop an automobile is reasonable if the officer has ___ ___ to believe that a traffic violation has occurred
probable cause
Whren vs US
Note - can also stop them if you have RS of criminal activity (US v Cortez), but this case (Whren) refers to traffic violations. This is why it’s always best to get PC of a traffic violation prior to a stop (ie when looking for drugs) since the defense will argue “why did you stop them?” and you will say “I saw them commit a traffic violation” and you won’t have to debate your reasonable suspicion
When a consent to search is sought from a person not in custody, the police (are / are not) required to give the person Miranda type warnings.
Particularly, the police (do / do not) have to tell the person that he has the right to refuse the search.
are not
do not
Schneckloth v. Bustamonte
Are you required to tell a driver on a traffic stop he is free to go before asking for consent?
No
Ohio v Robinette
Constructive possession exists if the defendant…
Knowingly has __ and __ over (contraband)
Has the ___ to ___ dominion and control over (contraband)
Knowing dominion and control over a ___ in which (contraband) is concealed
dominion and control
power to exercise
vehicle
US vs Brito
The indication of drugs after a sniff from a well trained drug detection police dog (is / is not) sufficient to establish probable cause.
is
United States v. Race
If a police officer has sufficient reasonable suspicion, waiting 40 minutes for the drug dog to arrive (is / is not) reasonable.
is
US v. Mendoza
(This means if you suspect drugs are in the vehicle, you can detain them for 40 minutes or even longer to get a K9 to your traffic stop to conduct a sniff)
A Trooper developed reasonable suspicion to detain (the suspect) and call for a drug dog. The Trooper tried to find a close K-9, but could not. He called out another Trooper with a K-9, but he was 45 miles away. It took an hour for him to arrive.
The court said the wait (was / was not) reasonable under the circumstances.
was
US v. Salgado
(Again, if you suspect there are drugs in the vehicle, you can detain the occupants/car while you wait to get a K9 to your location. In this case it took over an hour and the courts were fine with that)
The Court ruled that a traffic stop, ABSENT reasonable suspicion or consent, (can / cannot) be extended even for a few minutes after the conclusion of a traffic stop in order to conduct a K-9 sniff of the vehicle
cannot
Rodriguez v. US
Note - Basically this case means you need reasonable suspicion drugs are in the vehicle to detain them past the duration of a ‘normal’ traffic stop. If you have RS, you are good. If you don’t have RS, you can only keep them there with their consent. But I ask, if you don’t have RS, why are you keeping them there longer anyway? You should be back out looking for a better car. Also, this case is used sometimes if you are having our K9 do an open-air sniff DURING your traffic stop. Sometimes I have Miller sniff a car while I’m writing the warning, checking OSCN, checking warrants, etc. He has to get finished with the sniff before I finish all that IF I do not have good articulable reasonable suspicion.
Can you detain passengers until the impound inventory is complete?
No
“The mission of traffic stop is to issue summons/warning due to equipment or traffic infraction”, if not diligently pursuing this objective cannot extend the stop further
Rodriguez v US
Subject is nervous, hands are shaking, won’t make eye contact. Is that enough reasonable suspicion to extend a traffic stop and wait for a K9?
Yes
US vs Berry
The use of a flashlight (does / does not) violate the “plain view” doctrine
A police officer (can / cannot) contort or place himself in an unusual position… as long as he is still in a place he has a right to be
does not
can
Texas vs Brown
A person (does / does not) have a privacy interest in the VIN on their vehicle
does not
NY vs Class
Can you move items covering the VIN on the dash to inspect it?
Yes
NY v Class (there is no privacy interest in a VIN)
An officer’s prior knowledge of a person’s criminal behavior (can / cannot) be considered along with other facts to determine PROBABLE CAUSE even though this information cannot be used at trial.
can
Brinegar v US
Note - criminal history “cannot ALONE establish reasonable suspicion or probable cause.”
Can you order a driver out of a vehicle without reasonable suspicion?
Yes
Pennsylvania v Mimms
Can you stop a vehicle on reasonable suspicion that a crime has been occurred, even if you don’t see a traffic offense?
Yes
US v Cortez
You have PC to search a vehicle.
Can you open closed containers?
Can you open locked containers?
Can you search the trunk?
Yes
Yes
Yes
US v Ross
Can search in CLOSED containers with PC, such as opening a closed paper bag (this case added to Carroll Doctrine, which only said can search with PC)
“Once probable cause to search is established, the officer may search the entire vehicle, including the trunk and all containers therein that might contain contraband.” US v Ross cited in US v Parker
You have PC to search a car. You find a locked container. Can you open it without a warrant?
Yes
Carroll vs US
US v Ross
Wyoming vs Houghton
CA vs Acevedo
Can you move items covering the VIN on the dash to inspect it?
Yes. There is no privacy interest in the VIN
NY v Class