NCJ Number
130366
Journal
Crime to Court Dated: (May 1991) Pages: 1-4
Date Published
1991
Length
4 pages
Annotation
The question of how far a police officer is permitted to go in obtaining information about a vehicle and its occupants during routine traffic stops is examined.
Abstract
In the case, United States v. Walker, U.S. District Court (Utah) 1990, a motorist was stopped for a speeding violation and questioned by police on seemingly unrelated issues. Subsequently, the motorist and his car were searched by the officer, revealing a large sum of cash and two kilogram packages of cocaine. The defendant was placed under arrest, and, after a search warrant for the vehicle was obtained, further search revealed 86 kilogram packages of cocaine. Three small plastic bags of cocaine were found in the defendant's travel bag. This case illustrates some of the problems that can arise out of the most routine traffic stops.