Opinion ID: 522980
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Driving in Tandem

Text: 14 After Robert L changed lanes and the patrol unit pulled up alongside him, Agent Truty noticed another car, behind Robert L's vehicle, that was also being driven by a juvenile. Truty decided that the two cars were traveling in tandem, and this circumstance added to his suspicion that criminal activity was afoot. This circuit has recognized that traveling in tandem can be indicative of illegal smuggling activity. See United States v. Larios-Montes, 500 F.2d 941, 943-44 (9th Cir.1974) (driving in tandem, though not sufficient on its own to establish founded suspicion, is a factor that can be considered), cert. denied, 422 U.S. 1057, 95 S.Ct. 2681, 45 L.Ed.2d 709 (1975). Once again, however, the significance of this factor is undercut in the instant case by reference to the facts. 15 Agent Truty admitted that he had not noticed Mr. Grijalva-Florez, the driver of the second car, at the accident scene or at any other time before he pulled alongside appellant's automobile. He also testified that all three vehicles travelled no more than approximately one kilometer together before he made the decision to stop Robert L. Thus, Truty's determination that the two cars were engaged in a joint venture was based only on the briefest of observations. Compare United States v. Medina-Gasca, 739 F.2d 1451, 1453 (9th Cir.1984) (extended observation of three vehicles traveling close together, parking bumper-to-bumper, and later traveling once again in tandem); United States v. Saenz, 578 F.2d 643, 646-47 (5th Cir.1978) (cars observed traveling together for 70 miles), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 1075, 99 S.Ct. 850, 59 L.Ed.2d 42 (1979); United States v. Villarreal, 565 F.2d 932, 936 (5th Cir.) (driving in tandem for approximately an hour), cert. denied, 439 U.S. 824, 99 S.Ct. 92, 58 L.Ed.2d 116 (1978). Further, there was no other evidence of a connection between the two drivers. 2