Opinion ID: 392708
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: seizure and detention of luggage

Text: 20 We look then to the standard of reasonableness as required by the fourth amendment in the seizure and detention of inanimate objects. 21 In United States v. Van Leeuwen, 397 U.S. 249, 90 S.Ct. 1029, 25 L.Ed.2d 282 (1970), the Supreme Court recognized the propriety of detaining inanimate objects without probable cause when reasonable suspicion existed that they were included in a scheme of criminal activity. In that case two twelve pound packages of coins sent by first-class mail were stopped and delayed for more than a day because government agents suspected they were part of an illegal coin importation system. Speaking for a unanimous Court, Justice Douglas acknowledged the sanctity of a citizen's fourth amendment privacy interest in sending objects through first-class mail, but added, Yet even first-class mail is not beyond the reach of all inspection; and the sole question here is whether the conditions of its detention and inspection had been satisfied. Id. at 252, 90 S.Ct. at 1032. After pointing out that the officers had justifiable suspicion about these packages of coins, the Court approved their removal from the flow of the mail without a warrant while a brief investigation was being completed. 22 Although the length of time during which appellants' luggage was detained is a relevant factor when considered in the light of all the surrounding circumstances in determining whether such an intrusion is permissible under fourth amendment standards, we know of no case which has placed an outer time limit on the detention of impersonal objects such as Dunaway placed upon the detention of persons. As the Court said in Van Leeuwen : 23 Theoretically and it is theory only that respondent has on his side detention of mail could at some point become an unreasonable seizure of 'papers' or 'effects' within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment. Detention for 1 1/2 hours from 1:30 to 3 p. m. for an investigation certainly was not excessive; ... Id. 24 In any event, in the case before us, the suitcases were detained for only twenty minutes awaiting the arrival of a police dog, a period of time well within that allowed in Van Leeuwen. It was the dog's signal that the luggage contained narcotics which provided probable cause upon which a warrant was then issued pursuant to which the suitcases were searched and the appellants arrested. In our view such a detention under these facts does not offend constitutional standards. 25 The dissent finds this holding a startling departure from the fourth amendment's prohibition against warrantless seizures without probable cause, a precept which the dissent apparently considers inviolate and inflexible. However, the fourth amendment addresses itself only to unreasonable searches and seizures and the books are replete with cases wherein, for a variety of reasons, warrantless searches without probable cause have been held not unreasonable. 26 For example, border searches have generally been recognized as permissible even though without warrant or probable cause, and even where there has been no justifiable suspicion of illegality. Although specifically allowed by statute, such searches must still pass constitutional muster. Such searches have been upheld not as exceptions to the rule, but as being reasonable in the light of the government's sovereign right to protect its borders. United States v. Ramsey, 431 U.S. 606, 97 S.Ct. 1972, 52 L.Ed.2d 617 (1977). 27 Furthermore, administrative searches have been upheld without warrant, without probable cause, and without a reasonable suspicion of the illegality where they serve as a part of some governmental regulatory scheme. United States v. Biswell, 406 U.S. 311, 92 S.Ct. 1593, 32 L.Ed.2d 87 (1972) (upheld a search of a licensed firearm dealer's storeroom as part of inspection procedures authorized by the Gun Control Act of 1968); Wyman v. James, 400 U.S. 309, 91 S.Ct. 381, 27 L.Ed.2d 408 (1971) (upheld entry into leased premises as part of a routine annual inspection by city housing inspectors to determine compliance with city codes); United States v. Schafer, 461 F.2d 856 (9th Cir. 1972) (upheld the search of an air traveler's luggage as part of a screening inspection of all luggage and personal effects of aircraft passengers leaving Hawaii to prevent exportation of plants, pests and diseases). 28 Warrantless searches without probable cause have been upheld when required as a condition for entering aircraft or public buildings as a part of a regulatory scheme to assure public safety. Downing v. Kunzig, 454 F.2d 1230 (6th Cir. 1972) (upheld the search of a briefcase for weapons and explosives pursuant to a rule conditioning entry into a federal building upon submission to such a search). 29 In considering these decisions, we recognize that the Fourth Amendment itself defines the standard for searches and seizures. We do not retreat from the requirement of a warrant or probable cause except in exceptional circumstances. The basic test of reasonableness under the Fourth Amendment is the warrant requirement. The decisions upon which we rely are bottomed upon the concept that in the light of all the circumstances the searches are not unreasonable by constitutional standards. 3 30 In Van Leeuwen, which the dissent brushes aside as having no application outside the mail context, the Court made no pretense of carving out a brand new exception to the fourth amendment. Instead it merely held that under those suspicious circumstances a warrantless seizure without probable cause was not unreasonable. 31 Furthermore, the dissent calls our attention to United States v. Allen, 644 F.2d 749 (9th Cir. 1980), a case recently decided by this court, holding that the warrantless seizure of a briefcase without probable cause violated the fourth amendment. However, that case is clearly distinguishable from the one at bar. The sole issue there was whether the district court's finding of probable cause was supported by the evidence. We held that the evidence there was insufficient to uphold such a finding. In that case, we specifically refused to address the question of whether or not the agent had a founded suspicion. In the case before us, however, the district court found that the agent had such founded suspicion when defendants were stopped and, consequently, at the time the bags were seized, and the facts before us are more than sufficient to support such a finding.