Case Name: STATE of Louisiana v. Terry D. BARNETT
Court: Louisiana Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Louisiana
Decision Date: 1980-05-19
Citations: 389 So. 2d 352
Docket Number: No. 65748
Parties: STATE of Louisiana v. Terry D. BARNETT.
Judges: DIXON, C. J., concurs.
Reporter: Southern Reporter, Second Series
Volume: 389
Pages: 352–358

Head Matter:
STATE of Louisiana v. Terry D. BARNETT.
No. 65748.
Supreme Court of Louisiana.
May 19, 1980.
Garon, Brener & McNeely, Jacques F. Bezou, New Orleans, for defendant-relator.
William J. Guste, Jr., Atty. Gen., Barbara Rutledge, Asst. Atty. Gen., Harry F. Con-nick, Dist. Atty., Leon A. Cannizzaro, Jr., Louise S. Korns, David J. L’Hoste, Asst. Dist. Attys., for plaintiff-respondent.

Opinion:
MARCUS, Justice.
Terry D. Barnett was charged by bill of information with receiving stolen things in violation of La.R.S. 14:69. Defendant filed a pretrial motion to suppress certain records seized from his place of business pursuant to a search warrant. After a hearing, the trial judge denied the motion. We granted defendant's application under our supervisory jurisdiction to review the correctness of this ruling.
Evidence adduced at the suppression hearing reveals that on April 19, 1979, two New Orleans police officers entered defendant's place of business, Gulf States Coin Exchange, Inc., 126 Royal Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, during business hours to execute a search warrant authorizing them to search for certain listed pieces of silverware. After searching the premises without finding the listed items, the officers were told that the pieces may have been melted down. They then requested to see defendant's records. Defendant and the officers searched the records and found a cash voucher that indicated defendant had purchased the listed silverware. The officers seized the voucher.
Defendant contends the trial judge erred in denying his motion to suppress. He argues the search that led to seizure of the evidence sought to be suppressed exceeded the authority of the search warrant. The state argues to the contrary but alternatively argues that, even if the search did exceed the authority of the warrant, defendant consented to the search. Finally, the state contends that defendant's rights were not violated by the search and seizure of his business records because defendant had no reasonable expectation of privacy
therein. Finding merit in the state's latter argument, we pretermit discussion of the other issues.
In Louisiana, dealers in used or secondhand property are subject to certain licensing and record-keeping requirements. One of these statutes, La.R.S. 37:1865, provides:
The book containing the record of purchase as provided for in R.S. 37:1864 and the various articles purchased and referred to therein shall at all times be open to the inspection of the superintendent of police or sheriff of the parish or anyone designated by them of the city, town, or parish in which the second-hand dealer does business.
In United States v. Biswell, 406 U.S. 311, 92 S.Ct. 1593, 32 L.Ed.2d 87 (1972), the United States Supreme Court discussed the constitutionality of a similar federal statute allowing warrantless inspection of the premises of any firearms or ammunition dealer for records or documents required to be kept and any firearms or ammunition kept at such premises. The Supreme Court stated:
[W]e had no occasion in See v. City of Seattle, 387 U.S. 541, 87 S.Ct. 1737, 18 L.Ed.2d 943 (1967), to consider the reach of the Fourth Amendment with respect to various federal regulatory statutes. In Colonnade Catering Corp. v. United States, 397 U.S. 72, 90 S.Ct. 774, 25 L.Ed.2d 60 (1970), we dealt with the statutory authorization for warrantless inspections of federally licensed dealers in alcoholic beverages. There, federal inspectors, without a warrant and without the owner's permission, had forcibly entered a locked storeroom and seized illegal liquor. Emphasizing the historically broad authority of the Government to regulate the liquor industry and the approval of similar inspection laws of this kind in Boyd v. United States, 116 U.S. 616, 6 S.Ct. 524, 29 L.Ed. 746 (1886), we concluded that Congress had ample power "to design such powers of inspection under the liquor laws as it deems necessary to meet the evils at hand." 397 U.S., at 76, 90 S.Ct., at 777. We found, however, that Congress had not expressly provided for forcible entry in the absence of a warrant and had instead given Government agents a remedy by making it a criminal offense to refuse admission to the inspectors under 26 U.S.C. § 7342.
Here, the search was not accompanied by any unauthorized force, and if the target of the inspection had been a federally licensed liquor dealer, it is clear under Colonnade that the Fourth Amendment would not bar a seizure of illicit liquor. When the officers asked to inspect respondent's locked storeroom, they were merely asserting their statutory right, and respondent was on notice as to their identity and the legal basis for their action. Respondent's submission to lawful authority and his decision to step aside and permit the inspection rather than face a criminal prosecution is analogous to a householder's acquiescence in a search pursuant to a warrant when the alternative is a possible criminal prosecution for refusing entry or a forcible entry. In neither case does the lawfulness of the search depend on consent; in both, there is lawful authority independent of the will of the householder who might, other things being equal, prefer no search at all. In this context, Bumper v. North Carolina, 391 U.S. 543, 88 S.Ct. 1788, 20 L.Ed.2d 797 (1968), is inapposite, since there the police relied on a warrant that was never shown to be valid; because their demand for entry was not pursuant to lawful authority, the acquiescence of the householder was held an involuntary consent. In the context of a regulatory inspection system of business premises that is carefully limited in time, place, and scope, the legality of the search depends not on consent but on the authority of a valid statute.
We think a like result is required in the present case, which involves a similar inspection system aimed at federally licensed dealers in firearms. Federal regulation of the interstate traffic in firearms is not as deeply rooted in history as is governmental control of the liquor industry, but close scrutiny of this traffic is undeniably of central importance to federal efforts to prevent violent crime and to assist the States in regulating the firearms traffic within their borders. See Congressional Findings and Declaration, Note preceding 18 U.S.C. § 922. Large interests are at stake, and inspection is a crucial part of the regulatory scheme, since it assures that weapons are distributed through regular channels and in a traceable manner and makes possible the prevention of sales to undesirable customers and the detection of the origin of particular firearms.
It is also apparent that if the law is to be properly enforced and inspection made effective, inspections without warrant must be deemed reasonable official conduct under the Fourth Amendment. In See v. City of Seattle, 387 U.S. 541, 87 S.Ct. 1737, 18 L.Ed.2d 943 (1967), the mission of the inspection system was to discover and correct violations of the building code, conditions that were relatively difficult to conceal or to correct in a short time. Periodic inspection sufficed, and inspection warrants could be required and privacy given a measure of protection with little if any threat to the effectiveness of the inspection system there at issue. We expressly refrained in that case from questioning a warrantless regulatory search such as that authorized by § 923 of the Gun Control Act. Here, if inspection is to be effective and serve as a credible deterrent, unannounced, even frequent, inspections are essential. In this context, the prerequisite of a warrant could easily frustrate inspection; and if the necessary flexibility as to time, scope, and frequency is to be preserved, the protections afforded by a warrant would be negligible.
It is also plain that inspections for compliance with the Gun Control Act pose only limited threats to the dealer's justifiable expectations of privacy. When a dealer chooses to engage in this pervasively regulated business and to accept a federal license, he does so with the knowledge that his business records, firearms, and ammunition will be subject to effective inspection. Each licensee is annually furnished with a revised compilation of ordinances that describe his obligations and define the inspector's authority. 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(19). The dealer is not left to wonder about the purposes of the inspector or the limits of his task.
We have little difficulty in concluding that where, as here, regulatory inspections further urgent federal interest, and the possibilities of abuse and the threat to privacy are not of impressive dimensions, the inspection may proceed without a warrant where specifically authorized by statute. The seizure of respondent's sawed -off rifles was not unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment . [Footnotes omitted.]
The same .considerations are present in the instant case. The search was not accompanied by any unauthorized force. When the officers requested to see defendant's records, they were merely asserting their statutory right. The lawfulness of the search does not depend upon consent. Rather, it depends on the authority of a valid statute.
The present case involves an inspection system aimed at state-licensed dealers in secondhand goods. State regulation of secondhand dealers has been in effect since 1926. Close scrutiny of traffic in secondhand goods is undeniably of central importance to state efforts in discouraging burglaries, thefts, and robberies, serious crimes that can be violent. Large interests are at stake, and inspection directly furthers those interests since it tends to limit access to channels through which thieves may safely convert stolen property into cash.
Also, as in Biswell, it is apparent that, if inspection is to be effective as a credible deterrent of the practice of buying used goods from unidentified strangers, inspections without warrants must be deemed reasonable under the fourth amendment. Unannounced, even frequent, inspections are essential. The prerequisite of a warrant could easily frustrate inspection. In any case, the protection afforded by a warrant would be negligible.
Furthermore, inspections under La.R.S. 37:1865 pose only limited threats to the dealer's justifiable expectations of privacy. When a dealer chooses to engage in this regulated business and seeks a state license, he does so with the knowledge that his business records and the goods he purchases will be subject to effective inspection.
We have little difficulty in concluding that where, as here, regulatory inspections further urgent state interest, and the possibilities of abuse and the threat to privacy are not of important dimensions, the inspection may proceed without a warrant where specifically authorized by statute. Accordingly, the trial judge did not err in denying defendant's motion to suppress.
DECREE
For the reasons assigned, the judgment of the district court is affirmed and the case is remanded to the district court for further proceedings in accordance with law.
DIXON, C. J., concurs.
CALOGERO, J., dissents and assigns reasons.
DENNIS, J., dissents for reasons assigned by Calogero.
The Honorable Edward A. de la Houssaye III participated in this decision as Associate Justice Ad Hoc.
. 377 So.2d 120 (La. 1979).
. La.R.S. 37:1861-: 1870 provide:
§ 1861. "Second-hand dealer" defined
Every person in this state engaged in the business of buying, selling, trading in, or otherwise acquiring or disposing of used or second-hand property such as jewelry, silverware, diamonds, pictures, objects of art, clothing, mechanic's tools, carpenter's tools, automobile accessories and supplies, and other such property, is a second-hand dealer. The provisions of this Part shall not apply to the retail jewelry, automobile, furniture, and antique business.
§ 1861.1 Secondhand dealer defined in parishes with a population over four hundred fifty thousand
A. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Part to the contrary, every person in a parish with a population in excess of four hundred fifty thousand who is engaged in the business of buying, selling, trading in, or otherwise acquiring or disposing of used or secondhand property is a secondhand dealer subject to the provisions of this Part unless otherwise defined by law. This definition shall apply to but not be limited to owners of secondhand stores, flea markets, and antique shops. In such a parish, this Section shall not be construed as applying to dealers in motor vehicles,- dealers in used parts or used accessories of motor vehicles or wreckers or dismantlers of motor vehicles who are licensed under the provisions of R.S. 32:718 et seq.
§ 1862. License required; application; bond
No person shall do business as a secondhand dealer in this state without having first obtained the license required by law. Any person desiring a license as second-hand dealer shall make application in writing, specifying the street number and house number of the building where the business is to be carried on. This application shall be signed by at least three property tax payers of the city or parish where the business is to be established, certifying that the applicant is of good moral character. He shall also submit with his application, a bond in favor of the city or parish, as the case may be, where the business is to be established, in the sum of three hundred dollars with security, conditioned for the due observance of all provisions of this Part.
§ 1863. Change in location to be noted on license
If after issuance and delivery of a license under the provisions of this Part any change is made in the location of the place of business designated therein, the business shall not be conducted at the new location or under such license, until the official issuing the license notes the change on the license, and the superintendent of police of the city or the sheriff of the parish in which the secondhand dealer is doing business is notified in writing of the change.
§ 1864. Record of secondhand goods or. objects purchased required
Every secondhand dealer as defined in this Part shall be required to maintain a book or ledger setting forth each purchase of secondhand or used merchandise when the value of any single piece of merchandise or article received shall be twenty-five dollars or more, for each single transaction. The price at which a piece of merchandise is offered for sale by a secondhand dealer shall be considered prima facie evidence of the value of the piece of merchandise. Each ledger entry shall be entered at the time of each transaction and shall contain an accurate description in the English language of the merchandise or article received including serial numbers of said objects, if distinguishable, along with the amount paid therefor.
The name, address, sex, race, height, weight, and driver's license number of the person or persons selling or delivering said merchandise or articles to the dealer shall be obtained and included with each ledger entry. Records of each purchase shall be preserved for a period of at least three years.
§ 1865. Book to be open for inspection
The book containing the record of purchase as provided for in R.S. 37:1864 and the various articles purchased and referred to therein shall at all times be open to the inspection of the superintendent of police or sheriff of the parish or anyone designated by them of the city, town, or parish in which the secondhand dealer does business.
§ 1866. Daily report of entries
Every person, licensed under the provisions of this Part shall make out and deliver to the superintendent of police of the city or town or to the sheriff of the parish in which he is doing business, every day before the hour of twelve o'clock noon, a legible and correct copy of the entries in the book mentioned in R.S. 37:1864 during the previous day. The name given by the person making a sale shall be furnished the superintendent of police or sheriff when they specially request it.
§ 1867. Disposal or changing identity prohibited during ten day period
No second-hand dealer shall sell or dispose of or change or destroy the identity of any goods, articles or things, purchased by him before an interval of ten days from date of purchase has elapsed.
§ 1868. Hours of business
A second-hand dealer shall neither open his place of business before the hour of 7 o'clock a. m. nor keep it open after the hour of 7 o'clock p. m. except on Saturdays and during the month of December, during which time the hour of 7 o'clock p. m. shall be extended to 10 o'clock p. m.
§ 1869. Violations; penalty
Any secondhand dealer who violates, neglects, or refuses, to comply with any provisions of this Part, shall, for the first offense, be fined not less than twenty-five dollars, nor more than one hundred dollars or be imprisoned for not less than ten days nor more than thirty days, or both. For the second and subsequent offenses he shall be fined five hundred dollars, or be imprisoned for not less than thirty days, nor more than sixty days, or both. If convicted three times his license shall be revoked and he shall not thereafter be permitted to engage in the business of secondhand dealer in the state of Louisiana.
§ 1870. Failure to comply; penalty
Anyone acting as a second-hand dealer without complying with the provisions of this Part shall be fined not less than two hundred and fifty dollars or be imprisoned not less than thirty days nor more than sixty days, or both.
. The question has been raised whether La.R.S. 37:1865, which provides that the records must be open to the inspection of the superintendent of police or sheriff of the parish or anyone designated by them requires an express designation of authority to be made before the in spection can proceed. In United States v. Biswell, 406 U.S. 311, 92 S.Ct. 1593, 32 L.Ed.2d 87 (1972), the inspection statute stated: "The Secretary may enter . . . " The actual entry was made by a federal treasury agent who showed no express authorization by the Secretary of the Treasury. The Supreme Court held the inspection valid. Therefore, we do not consider whether La.R.S. 37:1865 requires an express designation of authority before an officer can inspect the records of a secondhand dealer.
. The present regulations were first enacted as 1926 La.Acts, No. 309.
. We are mindful that in Marshall v. Barlow's, Inc., 436 U.S. 307, 98 S.Ct. 1816, 56 L.Ed.2d 305 (1978), See v. City of Seattle, 387 U.S. 541, 87 S.Ct. 1737, 18 L.Ed.2d 943 (1967), and Camara v. Municipal Court, 387 U.S. 523, 87 S.Ct. 1727, 18 L.Ed.2d 930 (1967), the Supreme Court invalidated searches made without warrants pursuant to inspection statutes. These cases, however, are clearly distinguishable, as they involve inspections for compliance with safety codes, fire codes, and housing codes, none of which require frequent, unannounced inspections to maintain their effectiveness. The United States Supreme Court itself distinguished See in Biswell, stating:
The mission of the inspection system [in See] was to discover and correct violations of the building code, conditions that were relatively difficult to conceal or to correct in a short time. Periodic inspections sufficed, and inspection warrants could be required and privacy given a measure of protection with little if any threat to the effectiveness of the inspection system there at issue.
Furthermore, in Barlow's, See, and Camara, the Supreme Court was not faced with inspection statutes enacted as part of a licensing scheme.