Opinion ID: 1176846
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Seizure of drugs.

Text: The Court of Appeals held in this case that even assuming that the officer could properly search defendant's billfold for the purpose of verifying defendant's identity and even though the plastic bags were in plain view, nevertheless, under the rule of State v. Elkins, supra , the officer had no good reason to suspect that the plastic bags contained narcotics so as to justify the submission of them to a laboratory for testing. In our opinion, that view is simply not realistic. This officer was experienced in such matters and upon finding these plastic bags containing white and blue powdered substances he was entitled to use common sense. Indeed, it is the business of police officers to be suspicious and this officer had not only the right, but the duty to determine whether or not such powdered substances constituted illegal drugs. This was not a case involving a bottle of pills, as in State v. Elkins, supra , and the rule as stated in that case (245 Or. at 290-291, 422 P.2d 250) is not contrary to this conclusion, but supports it. [9] See also State v. Johnson, supra, 232 Or. at 122, 374 P.2d 481.