FI RST DI VI SI ON

PHI PPS, C. J.

, DOYLE, P. J, and BOGGS, J.

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

ph y sic a l ly r e ce iv ed i n our c le r k ’s offic e w ithin te n

da y s of the da te of de c is ion to be de e m ed tim e ly file d.

http://w w w .ga a ppe a ls .us /r ule s /

June 11, 2015



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A1 5 A0 09 9 . LEW IS v . THE STATE. DO-0 0 5 C

D O Y LE , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Fo l l owi n g a b en c h t ri al

, Ri ch ard Lewi s was co n v i ct ed of p o s s es s io n o f l es s

t h an o n e o u n ce o f m ari

ju an a 1 an d p o s s es s io n o f a d r u g

- rel at ed o b ject

. 2 He n o w

ap p eal s fro m t h e den i al o f h is m o t i o n fo r n ew t ri al

, co n t en d in g t h at th e t ri al co u rt

erred b y d en y i n g h i s m ot i o n t o su p p r e s s ev i d en ce o b t ai n ed d u ri n g a t raffi c s t o p.

Sp ec i f i cal l y

, Lewi s arg u es t h at t h e arres t i n g o ffi cer i m p erm i s s i b ly p ro l o n g ed t h e

t raffi c s t o p b efo re co n d u ct i ng a free-ai r sn i ff s e a r c h wi t h a t rai ned po l i ce n arco ti cs

d o g an d ob t ai n i n g reas o nab l e su s p i ci on t o co nd u ct a n o n

- c o n s e n s u al s earch o f h i s

v eh icl e. Fo r t h e reas on s t h at fo l l o w, we affi rm

.

1 OCGA § § 1 6 -1 3 -2 (b ); 1 6 -1 3 -3 0 (j) (1 ).

2 OCGA § 1 6 -1 3-3 2.2 (a).Th ere are t h ree fu n d am en t a l p r i n ci p l es wh i ch m u st b e fo l l o w ed

wh en co n d u ct in g an ap p el l at e rev i ew o f a t r i a l c o u r t ’ s ru l i n g on a

m o t i o n t o s u p p res s. Fi rs t

, wh en a m o t i o n t o s u p pres s i s h eard b y t he t ri al

ju d g e, t hat ju d g e s i t s as t h e t r i er o f fact s

. Th e t ri al j u d ge h ears th e

ev i d en ce, an d h i s f

i n d i n g s b as ed u p o n co n fl i ct i ng ev i d en ce are

an al og o u s to t h e v erd i ct o f a ju ry an d s ho u l d n o t b e d i s t u r b e d b y a

rev i ewi ng c o u r t i f t h ere i s an y ev id en ce t o s up p o rt t h em

. Seco n d

, th e

t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s io n w i t h reg a r d t o q u es ti o n s o f fact an d cred i b i l i t y

m u s t b e accep ted u n l es s cl earl y erro n eo u s

. T h i rd

, th e rev iewi n g co u rt

m u s t co n s t ru e t h e ev i d en ce m o st fav o rab l y t o t h e u p h o l di n g o f t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s fi n d i ng s an d ju d g m en t

. Th es e p ri n ci p l es ap p l y eq u al ly wh et h er

t h e t ri al co u rt ru l ed i n fav o r o f t h e St at e o r t h e d efen d an t. 3

To t h e ex t en t th at “ t h e e v i d en ce at a s u pp res s i o n h eari ng i s u n co n t ro v ert ed an d t h e

cred i b i l i t y o f wi tn es s es i s n ot i n q u e s t i o n

, we co n d u ct a d e n ov o rev i ew o f t h e t ri al

co u rt ’ s ap p l i cat i o n o f t h e l aw t o t h e u n d is pu t ed fact s .” 4

Th e ev i d en ce i n t h i s cas e i n cl ud es a v i d eo reco rd i n g o f t h e t raffi c s t o p as wel l

as t es t i m o n y fro m t h e o ffi cers

. Vi ewed i n t h e li g h t m o st fav o rab l e t o t h e t ri al co urt ’ s

fi nd i ng s , t h e ev i d en ce s h o ws th at i n J u l y 2 0 1 2 , Offi cer J erry J ack s o n was o n p at ro l

3 (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Br o wn v. S t a t e

, 2 9 3 Ga. 7 8 7

, 8 0 2 -8 0 3

(3 ) (b ) (2 ) (7 5 0 SE2 d 14 8 ) (2 0 1 3 ), q u o t i n g Mi l l er v. St a t e

, 2 8 8 Ga. 2 86

, 2 86 -2 8 7 (7 0 2

SE2 d 8 8 8) (2 0 1 0).

4 Jo n es v. S ta t e

, 29 1 Ga. 3 5

, 3 6-3 7 (1 ) (7 2 7 SE2 d 4 5 6 ) (2 0 1 2 ), ci t i n g Va n s a nt

v. S t a t e , 2 6 4 Ga. 3 1 9 , 3 2 0 (1 ) (4 4 3 SE2 d 4 7 4 ) (1 9 94 ).

2w i t h p as s en g er Offi cer J o h n Cas h i n a m ark ed p o li ce cru i s er o n an i n t er s t a t e w h e n

J ack s o n o b s erv ed a recreat i on al v eh i cl e (“ RV”) t o w i n g a t rai l er cro s s t h e wh i t e l i n e

o n th e ri g h t s i d e o f t h e r o ad way

. As J ack s o n fo l l o wed t h e RV, h e o bs erv ed i t cro ss

t h e w h i t e l i n e t wo s ep arat e t i m es

, “ al m os t t ak i n g o u t a c o n s t r u ct i o n b arrel at o n e

p o i n t .” Bas ed on t h e RV’ s errat i c d ri v i ng , J ack s o n i n i t iat ed a t raffi c s t o p

.

As J ack s o n ap p ro ach ed th e RV, th e d ri v er, Lewi s

, p laced h i s em p t y h an d s o ut

t h e dri v er’ s wi nd o w. J ack so n s p o k e t o Lewi s t hro u g h t h e p as sen g er d oo r, du e t o t h e

h eav y h ig h way t raffi c, an d Lewi s ex p lai n ed t h at he h ad b een ch eck i n g a v o i ce m ai l

o n h i s cel l p h o n e

, wh i ch cau s ed h i m t o weav e o u t of h i s l an e. J ack s o n req u es t ed

Lewi s ’ s d ri v er’ s l i cen s e, wh i ch Lewi s pro v i ded

, a n d a s k e d Lewi s fo r t h e RV’ s

reg i s trat i o n

. Lewi s ex p l ai n ed t h at h e wo u l d h av e to lo o k fo r i t s o m ewh ere i n s i d e t h e

RV, an d J ack s o n as k ed L ewi s if h e co ul d co m e i n si d e wi t h h i m w h i l e Lewi s l o o k ed

f o r t h e p ap erwo rk ; Lewi s d ecl i n ed

. Th e t wo o ffi cers w ai t ed o u t s i d e, wh i l e Lewi s

l o cat ed t h e p ap erwo rk

. At th e o ffi cers ’ req u es t

, Lewi s th en jo i n ed t h e o ffi cers o u t s i d e

t h e RV an d p ro v id ed t h e o ffi cers wi t h t h e reg i s t rat i o n

, an d J ack s o n ex p l ai n ed t h at h e

was g o i n g t o wri t e Lewi s a warn i n g fo r fai l ure t o m ai n tai n h i s lan e. J ack s o n req u es t ed

co n sen t t o p at d o wn Lewi s b efo re h e w ro t e u p t h e w arn i n g

, w h i ch c o ns en t Lewi s

g av e, an d t h e p at -d own rev eal ed n o weap o n s o r co n t rab an d.

3Aft er i n fo rm in g Lewi s t h at h e w o u ld recei v e a warn i n g

, J ack s o n req u es t ed

co n sen t t o s earch t h e RV, wh i ch Lewi s den i ed

. J ack s o n th en im m ed i at el y g av e t h e

w a r n i n g s l i p t o Offi cer Cas h t o co n t i n u e fi l l in g o u t wh il e Jack s o n ret ri ev ed h i s

n a r c o ti cs d o g o u t of t h e cru is er. At t h i s p oi n t, t h e wri tt en warn in g h ad n o t b een

co m p l et ed

, an d p o l i ce d is p at ch h ad n o t ret u rn ed i t s ch eck o f Lewi s ’ s l i cen s e

i n fo rm at i o n

, wh i ch Jack s o n h ad req u es t ed earl i er v ia rad i o

. As t h o se p ro ces s es

co n ti n u ed

, J ack so n co n d uct ed a free-ai r s earch o f t h e RV wi t h t h e d o g

, wh i ch

“ al ert ed ” o n t h e trai ler an d t h e p as s en ger do o r o f th e RV, i nd i cat i n g t h at h e h ad

d et ect ed an od o r o f n arco t i cs

. J ack s o n ret u rn ed t h e d o g t o t h e cru i s er an d ex p l ai n ed

t o Lewi s t h at h e wo u l d b e s earch i n g t h e RV. At t h at p o in t

, Lewi s co n fes s ed t h at h e

h ad a s m al l am o un t o f m ari ju an a u nd er t h e fro n t seat an d a p i s t o l b ecau s e h e carri ed

l arg e am o u n t s o f cas h fro m h i s an t l er carv in g bu s in es s

. A s earch o f t h e RV rev eal ed

a s m al l qu an t i t y o f m ari

ju a n a u n d e r t h e fro n t s eat an d i n t w o ot h er l o cat io n s i n t h e

RV, as wel l as a s m al l s m ok i n g p i p e. No co n t rab an d was fo u n d i n t he t rai ler.

Bas ed o n t h e co n t rab an d fo u n d i n t he RV, L ewi s was arres t ed an d ch arg ed wi th

p o s s es s i o n o f t h e m ari

j u a n a an d t h e s m o k i n g p i p e. He m o v ed to s up p res s t h e

ev i d en ce o bt ai n ed d u ri ng t h e s earch

, an d t h e t ri al co u rt h el d a h eari n g

. Bas ed o n t h e

ev i d en ce at t h e h eari n g

, t h e t ri al co urt fo u n d th at th e d og ’ s free-ai r s earch was

4co n du ct ed d u ri n g t h e p ro ces s o f wri t i n g t h e warn i n g an d ch eck i n g Lewi s ’ s d ri v er’ s

l i cen se i nfo rm at i o n

– al l o f w h i ch t oo k p l ace wi t h i n ei g h t m i nu t es o f th e t i m e J ack so n

act i vat ed h is b lu e l i g ht s to i n it i at e t h e t raffi c s t o p

. Bas ed o n th es e fi n di n gs

, th e co u rt

co n cl u d ed th at t he t raffi c s t o p was n o t i m perm is s i b l y p ro l o n g ed

, an d t h e s earch o f t h e

RV was au t h o ri zed b y t h e s u s p ici o n aro u s ed b y t h e t rai n ed n arco ti cs d o g ’ s b eh av i o r.

Th ereaft er, t he co u rt fo u n d L e w i s g u i lt y i n a b en ch t ri al

, an d Lewi s n o w

ap p eal s t h e d en i al o f h is m o t i on fo r n ew t ri al

, ch al l en g i n g t h e d en i al o f hi s m o t i o n to

s u p p res s

.

1

. L e w i s arg u es t h at t he t ri al co u rt erred b y d en y in g h i s m o t i o n to s u p p res s

b ecau s e t h e o f

f i cers u n reas o n ab l y p ro l on g ed t h e t raffi c s t o p p ri o r t o ex ecu t i n g t h e

free-ai r s earch wi t h t h e n arco t i cs d o g . W e d i s ag ree.

Lewi s d o es n o t co n t es t t h e fact t hat t h e i ni t i al t raffi c s t o p w as ju s t i fi ed b y t h e

o ffi cer’ s o b s erv at i o n t hat Lewi s was fai li n g t o m ai n t ai n h i s lan e, wh i ch i s a t raffi c

v i o l at i o n

. 5 As recen t l y

ex p l ai n ed b y t h e Un i t ed St at es Su p rem e Co u rt i n Ro d r i g u ez

v. Un i t ed S t a t es

, 6

5 See OCGA § 4 0

- 6

- 4 8 (1 ); Ca ma ch o v. S t a t e

, 2 9 2 Ga. Ap p

. 12 0

, 1 2 2 (6 6 3

SE2 d 3 6 4 ) (2 0 0 8 ) (“ [n ] u m ero u s cas e s h av e hel d t h at weav i ng o u t o f on e’ s l an e

ju s t ifi es a s t o p ”).

6 Ro d r i g u ez v. Un i t ed

S t at es

, _

_ U. S. _

_ (_

_ SCt

_

_ , 1 9 1 LE2 d 4 9 2 ) (2 0 1 5 ).

5[a] s ei zu re fo r a t raffi c v i o l at i o n ju st ifi es a p o l i ce i n v es t i gat i o n o f t hat

v i o l at i o n

. A rel at iv el y bri ef en co u n t er, a ro u ti n e t raffi c s t op i s m o re

an al og o u s to a s o -cal l ed “ T e r r y 7 s t o p ” t h an t o a fo rm al arres t

. Li k e a

Te r r y s t op

, t h e to lerab l e d u rat i o n o f p o l i ce i n qu i ri es in th e traffi c-s t o p

co n t ex t is d et erm i n ed b y t h e s ei zu re’ s “ m i ss i o n ”— to ad dres s t h e t raffi c

v i o l at i o n th at warran t ed t h e s t o p

, an d at t en d t o rel at ed s afet y co ncern s

.

Becau s e ad dres s i n g t h e i n fract i on i s t h e p u rp o s e o f t h e s t o p, i t m ay l as t

n o l o n g er t han i s n eces s ary t o effect u at e t h at pu rp o s e. Au t h o ri t y fo r th e

s ei zu re t h u s en d s w h en t as k s ti ed t o t h e t raffi c in fract i o n are— o r

reas o n ab l y

s h o u l d h av e b een

— co m

p let ed

. . .

[A] t raffi c st o p can b eco m e u n l awfu l i f i t is p ro l on g ed b ey o n d th e

t i m e reas on ab l y req ui red t o co m p l et e t h e “ m i s si o n ” o f i s s u i n g a warn i n g

t i ck et

. . . . T h e s ei zu re rem ai n s l awfu l o n ly s o l o n g as un rel at ed i n q u i ri es

d o n o t m eas u rab l y ex t en d t h e d u rat io n o f t h e s t o p . An o ffi cer, i n o t h er

wo rd s

, m ay co n d u ct cert ai n u n rel at ed ch eck s d u ri n g an o t h erwi s e l awfu l

t raffi c s t o p

. Bu t he m ay n o t d o s o i n a way t hat p ro l o n g s t h e s t o p

, ab s en t

t h e reas o nab l e su s p i ci o n o rd i n ari l y d em a n d ed t o ju s t i fy d et ai n i n g an

i n d i vi d u al

.

Bey o n d d et erm i ni n g wh et h er t o i s su e a traffi c t i ck et

, an offi cer’ s

m i s s i o n i ncl u d es o rd i nary i n q u iri es i n ci den t t o t h e t raffi c s t o p

. Ty p i cal l y

s u ch i n q ui ri es i n v o lv e ch eck i n g t h e dri v e r ’s l i cen s e, d et erm i n i n g

wh et h er t h ere are o u tsta

nd i n g warran ts ag ai n s t t h e d ri v er, an d i n s p ect i n g

t h e au t o m ob i l e’ s reg is t rat i o n an d p ro o f o f i n s u ran ce. Th es e ch eck s s erv e

7 Ter r y v. Oh i o , 3 9 2 U. S. 1 (8 8 SCt 1 8 6 8 , 2 0 LEd 2 d 8 8 9 ) (1 9 68 ).

6t h e s a m e o b ject i v e as en fo rcem en t o f t h e t raffi c co d e: en s u ri n g t hat

v eh i cl es o n t h e ro ad are o p erat ed s afel y an d res p o ns i b ly

.

A d o g sn i ff, b y co n t ras t

, is a m eas u re ai m ed at det ect i ng ev i d en ce

o f o rd in ary cri m in al wro n g d o i n g

. [Th u s,] a do g s n i ff, un l i k e t h e ro u t in e

m eas u res ju s t m en t io n ed

, i s n o t a n o rd i n ary i n ci d en t o f a t raffi c s t o p

.

Lack i n g t h e sam e cl o s e co n n ect i o n t o ro ad way s afet y as t h e ord i n ary

i n q u i ri es

, a d o g s n i ff is no t fai rl y ch aract eri zed as p art o f t h e offi cer’ s

t raffi c m i s s i o n

. 8

Here, t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at t h e d o g s n i ff d i d n o t u nreas o n ab l y p r o l o n g t h e

t raffi c s t o p b ecau s e i t was co n d u ct ed b efo re co m p l et i o n of t h e t raffi c s t o p, an d i t d id

n o t h i n d er t h e o ffi cers ’ t i m el y co m pl et i o n o f t h e m is s i o n o f th e t raffi c s t o p

. Th e d o g

s n i ff was i n i t i at ed b y o n e o ffi cer wh i l e a s eco n d o ffi cer fi n i s h ed fi l l i n g o u t th e wri t t en

warn i n g an d wh i l e t h e o ffi cers w a i ted fo r d i s p at ch t o ret u rn th e ch eck on Lewi s ’ s

d ri v er’ s l i cen s e i n fo rm at io n. T h e d o g s n i ff was i n it i at ed wi t h in s i x m in u t es o f t h e

m o m en t t h e o ffi cers fi rs t m ad e c o n t act wi th L ewi s on t h e ro ad s i d e, an d i t was

c o m p l et ed fewer t han n i n et y s eco n d s l at er. Th e l i cen s e ch eck w as an “ o rd i n a r y

i n q u i r[y ] i nci d en t t o t h e t raffi c s t o p

, ” an d i t “ s er v e[d ] t h e s am e o b ject i v e as

8 (Ci t at i o n s an d p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Ro d ri g u ez, _ _ U. S. at

_

_ (II).

7en fo rcem en t o f t h e t raffi c co d e.” 9 Co n si s t en t wi t h t h e h o l d i n g i n Ro d ri g u ez

, “ o u r l aw

i s

. . . cl ear t h at it i s perm i s s i b l e t o co n d u ct an o p en ai r s earch aro u n d a v eh i cl e wh i l e

a t raffi c s t o p i s s t il l i n p ro g res s s o l o n g as th e s to p has n ot been u n reas o n ab l y

p ro l o n g ed fo r t h e pu rp o s e o f co n d u ct i n g t h e s earch .” 1 0 Bas ed o n th e ev id en ce t h at t h e

d o g s n iff o ccu rred du ri n g t h e o rd i n ary co u rs e o f t h e traffi c s t o p an d d i d n ot

u n reas o nab l y p ro l o n g t h e p ro ces s o f t he t r a f f i c s t o p

, t h e t ri al co u rt di d n o t err by

fi nd i ng i t p erm i s si b le. An d in l i g h t o f t h e b eh av i o r o f th e trai n ed n arco t i cs d o g d u ri n g

h i s free-ai r s n i ff, t h e o ffi cers ’ s earch o f t h e RV was au th o ri zed

. 1 1

2

. L ewi s a l s o arg u es t h at t h e t ri al co u rt cl earl y erred b y rel y i n g o n al l eg ed l y

fal s e tes t i m o n y b y J ack s o n d u ri n g t h e s u p pres s i o n h eari ng wh en t he v i d eo reco rd i n g

o f t h e t raffi c st o p was p ro ffered fo r ad m i s s io n b y t h e St at e. Lewi s p o i n t s o ut t h at t h e

o ffi cer in i t i al ly t es t i fi ed t h at he h ad l as t s een t h e v i d eo

, wh i ch i s o n e h ou r an d fo rt y

9 (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) Id

. at

_ _ . See al s o S t

. Fl eu r v. S t a t e

, 2 96 Ga. Ap p

. 8 4 9,

8 5 1 -8 5 2 ( 1 ) (6 7 6 SE2 d 2 4 3 ) (2 0 09 ) (“ [A] l aw en fo rcem en t o ffi cer co n d u ct i n g a

r o u t i n e t raffi c st o p m ay req u es t an d ex am i n e a d ri ver’ s l i cen s e an d ch eck fo r

o u t s t an d i n g warran t s [; ] an d q u es t i o n i n g t h e dri v er o r en g ag i n g i n s m al l tal k wh i l e

v eri fy i n g t h e i t em s m en t i o n ed ab o ve i s n o t a s ei zu re u n l es s t h e det en t i o n i s p ro l o n g ed

b y t h e q u es t i o ni ng .”) (p u n ct u at i o n an d fo o t n o t e o m i t t ed ).

1 0 (Pu n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed .) S t . Fl eu r , 2 96 Ga. Ap p

. at 8 5 2 (1 ).

1 1 See i d

. at 8 53 (2 ), ci t i n g Da vi d s o n v. S t a t e

, 25 7 Ga. Ap p. 2 60

, 26 4 (1 ) (5 7 0

SE2 d 6 9 8) (2 0 0 2) .

8f

o u r m i n u t es i n t o t al l en g t h, earl i er t h at m o rn i ng at “ n i n e fo rt y -fi v e, t en o ’ cl o c k

. ”

Bas ed o n t h e offi cer’ s ap p earan ce i n co u rt

, Lewi s arg u es t h at it was p h y s i cal l y

i m p o s s i b l e fo r t h e o ffi cer t o h av e s een t h e en t i re v id eo t h at m o rn i n g at t h at t i m e.

T h e refo re, h e arg u es

, t h e o ffi cer’ s t es t i m o ny was fal s e, an d t h e t ri al co u rt cl e a r l y

erred b y rel y i n g o n i t el s ewh ere wh en t h e o ffi cer d es cri b ed t h e t raffi c s to p

. 1 2

Nev ert h el es s

, t h i s arg u m en t i g n o res t h e fact t h at t he m at eri al p o rt i o n o f t h e

v i d eo – fro m th e ti m e t h e o ffi cer o b s erv ed Lewi s s w erv i n g t o t h e ti m e Lewi s was

arres t ed

– i s les s t h an 1 9 m in u t es l o n g

. Th e r efo re, t h e offi cer co u ld hav e tru t h fu l l y

an s wered t hat h e l as t s aw th e p o rt i o n o f v i d eo rel ev an t t o t h e s u p p res s io n h eari n g t h at

m o rn i n g, an d wh en g i v en t h e o p p o rt u n i ty

, h e cl ari fi ed h i s t es t i m o ny t h at he h ad n ot

wat ch ed t h e en t i re v i d eo t h at m orn i n g

. In l ig h t o f t h i s reco rd

, t here was n o cl ear erro r

b y t h e t ri al co u rt i n rel y in g o n t he o ffi cer’ s lat er d es cri p t i o n o f t he t raffi c s t o p

, an d t h e

t ri al co urt ’ s fi n d in g s are co n s i s t en t wi th t h e v i d eo o f t h e t raffi c s t op

, wh i ch we rev i ew

d e n o v o

. 1 3 Acco rd i ng l y

, t h is en u m erat i on i s wi t h ou t m eri t

.

1 2 Th e t ran scri p t s h o ws t h at aft er Lewi s o b ject ed t o t h e o ffi cer’ s a b i l i t y to

au t h en t i cat e t h e v i d eo

, t h e tri al co u rt reces s ed t h e p ro ceed i n g s fo r l u n ch an d al l o wed

t h e o ffi cer t i m e t o v i ew t h e en t i re v i d eo , an d t h e o ffi cer d id s o

.

1 3 See S t a te v. Mo h a mmed

, 3 0 4 Ga. Ap p. 2 3 0

, 2 31 -2 3 2 (6 9 5 SE2 d 7 2 1) (2 0 1 0 )

(fact s p l ai n l y

d i s cern i b l e fro m

a v i d eo are rev i ewed d e n o v o )

9Ju d

g men t a f f i r m ed . Ph i

p p s , C. J., a n d

Bo g g s , J., co n cu r

.

10