Motor Vehicle Searches

• Author: Deja Vishny
• Pages: 267-340

SUPPRESSING CRIMINAL EVIDENCE6-1 §6:04

CHAPTER 6: Motor Vehicle Searches

I. Governing Principles

A. Your Rights

§6:01 Right to Privacy in a Vehicle

In Katz v. New York, 389 U.S. 347 (1967), the Supreme Court held that the Fourth Amendment protects people, not

places; accordingly, the Constitution confers an individual’s right to privacy inside his car, as well as his home. More

recently, in United States v. Jones

from a warrantless government trespass in his vehicle. Nonetheless, one’s privacy interest in a vehicle is less than

one’s privacy interest in a home. New York v. Class, 475 U.S. 106 (1986). Because cars, unlike homes, are readily

California v. Carney, 471 U.S.

386 (1985). The courts have developed an entire line of legal doctrine applying to vehicular searches.

§6:02 Right To Challenge Stop/Search – Standing

Different rules regarding standing apply to vehicle searches. Any passenger in a car has standing to challenge the

stop of the car, as well as a search of his or her own person. Brendlin v. California, 551 U.S. 249 (2007). However,

only the driver or owner of the car has standing to challenge the search of the car itself. Rakas v. Illinois, 439 U.S.





B. Overview of Law Governing Vehicle Stops

§6:03 General Rule: Reasonable Suspicion

        

crime is only one of myriad reasons that a valid stop can take place. Police may also stop cars for any non-criminal

  



     

  

Whren v. United States         

giving the driver a ticket related to the original reason for the stop unless they really want to pile it on. Rather, this







      

general crime control, however, are not permitted (City of Indianapolis v. Edmond, 531 U.S. 32 (2000)), nor are



stop every person they encounter.



to stop a person walking down the street. However, there are more relaxed standards regarding the information an

anonymous tipster must provide the police.

§6:04 Anonymous Tipsters

        

reckless driving. Navarette v. California, 134 S. Ct. 1683 (2013). In Navarette, a woman called the police and

         

 6-2§6:05

       

       

    

       





Court’s ruling in Navarette is similar to many other court rulings. See, e.g., United States v. Wheat, 278 F.3d 722 (8th

Cir. 2001); State v. Golotta, 837 A.2d 359 (N.J. 2003); State v. Rutzinski, 623 N.W.2d 516 (Wis. 2001).

   

      



It is unclear, though, what those states will do in light of Navarette. For example:

• McChesney v. State, 988 P.2d 1071 (Wyo. 1999) (suppression granted where police received an anonymous

  



• State v. Miller

     





• State v. Lee

     

the car, driver and direction in which it was heading). The holding in Lee is in keeping with the Court’s

discussion in Navarette. See 134 S. Ct. at 1691.

    



C. Overview of Law Governing Search/Seizure of Vehicle and Occupants

§6:05 What Constitutes a “Seizure”?



     

Delaware v. Prouse

U.S. v. Mendenhall





some physical touching of a person, or the use of language or a tone of voice indicating that compliance with the

Michigan v. Chesternut, 486 U.S. 567 (1988).

§6:06 When is a Search Allowed?

 

Terry v. Ohio, 392

U.S. 1 (1968), still apply. See §6:24; see also Chapter 5, §5:30, et seq

     

Michigan v. Long, 463

  



Chambers v. Maroney,

399 U.S. 42 (1970).

SUPPRESSING CRIMINAL EVIDENCE6-3 §6:11

       

car when they only ticket the driver. However, in Arizona v. Gant, 129 S.Ct. 1710, 556 U.S. 332 (2009), the U.S.

New York

v. Belton, 453 U.S. 454 (1981), doctrine. See §6:34 for a discussion of Belton.





Practice point: Always investigate.

Always have your investigator interview every person who was in the car with your client

at the time of the stop. If the others in the car were also charged in connection with the

stop and search, you will need the consent of their lawyers to interview them; if they were

 











[§§6:07-6:09 Reserved]

II. Rights of Drivers and Passengers in Vehicle Stops

A. Governing Law

§6:10 Federal Law: All Persons in Vehicle Subject to Questioning and Detention

   



States Supreme Court has held that when a car is stopped, all persons in the car

the car, and temporarily detained. Arizona v. Johnson, 555 U.S. 323(2009); Maryland v. Wilson, 519 U.S. 408 (1997);

Pennsylvania v. Mimms, 434 U.S. 106 (1977).

§6:11 State Law and Other Limits on Police Action

      

    

example, in State v. Mendez, 970 P.2d 722, 724 (Wash. 1999) (overruled on other grounds), the Washington Supreme

                

    See also, e.g., Commonwealth

v. Gonsalves  



State v. Sprague, 824 A.2d 539 (2003).





a squad car or conduct a frisk. Arizona v. Johnson, supra; State v. Varnado, 582 N.W.2d 886 (Minn. 1998).

B. Sample Fact Pattern: Minor Non-Moving Violation

                    

                 

approached the driver’s side of the car; and the driver handed him her license. There is one passenger in the car. The



