Case ID: f-appx_414/html/0955-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Eric Wesley MASON, Defendant-Appellant.
    No. 10-50070.
    United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit.
    Submitted Feb. 15, 2011.
    
    Filed Feb. 17, 2011.
    
      David Adam Fox, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Office of the U.S. Attorney, San Diego, CA, for Plaintiff-Appellee.
    Joshua J. Jones, Assistant Federal Public Defender, Federal Defenders of San Diego, Inc., San Diego, CA, for Defendant-Appellant.
    Before: RYMER and BYBEE, Circuit Judges, and QUIST, Senior District Judge.
    
    
      
       The panel unanimously concludes this case is suitable for decision without oral argument. See Fed. R.App. ¶ . 34(a)(2).
    
    
      
       The Honorable Gordon J. Quist, Senior District Judge for the U.S. District Court for Western Michigan, Grand Rapids, sitting by designation.
    
   MEMORANDUM

Defendant Eric Mason appeals from an order of the district court denying his motion to suppress evidence obtained in the course of a Border Patrol stop along Interstate 8. Mason argues that at his suppression hearing, the district court improperly considered the testimony of Agent Herbert Rosette concerning the frequency of alien smuggling along Interstate 8.

We have previously held that police officers may consider the frequency of a road’s use as an alien smuggling route in determining whether reasonable suspicion exists to justify a traffic stop. United States v. Palos-Marquez, 591 F.3d 1272, 1277 (9th Cir.2010) (“[T]he notoriety of a road as an alien smuggling route has long been held by numerous courts, including the Supreme Court, as a relevant factor suppoi'ting reasonable suspicion.” (citing United States v. Brignoni-Ponce, 422 U.S. 873, 884-85, 95 S.Ct. 2574, 45 L.Ed.2d 607)). However, the frequent use of a road by alien smugglers is not, on its own, sufficient to support a reasonable suspicion. United States v. Manzo-Jurado, 457 F.3d 928, 936 (9th Cir.2006) (“[A] location or route frequented by illegal immigrants, but also by many legal residents, is not significantly probative to an assessment of reasonable suspicion.”).

Here, the district court concluded that Agent Rosette’s stop was justified by at least eight facts: (1) a truck driver’s gesture directing Agent Rosette’s attention to Mason’s vehicle, (2) the fact that the car “was a junker,” (3) Agent Rosette’s observation that the vehicle was riding low, (4) Mason’s failure to turn off his right turn signal, (5) Mason’s nervous demeanor after noticing Agent Rosette, (6) the car’s expired registration, (7) Agent Rosette’s observation of two heads popping up from the back seat of the car, and (8) Interstate 8’s popularity as an alien smuggling venue.

We agree with the district court’s conclusion that, considering the totality of these circumstances, Agent Rosette’s actions were supported by a reasonable suspicion that Mason was engaged in criminal activity. See Palos-Marquez, 591 F.3d at 1274-75.

AFFIRMED. 
      
       This disposition is not appropriate for publication and is not precedent except as provided by 9 th Cir. R. 36-3.