Opinion ID: 884325
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Woodland's authority as a private citizen

Text: Under § 46-6-502(1), MCA, Woodland was within his authority as a private citizen to observe Hendrickson's erratic driving, to perform the traffic stop as requested, and to relate his observations of Hendrickson's slurred speech, odor of alcohol and blood shot eyes. In McDole, a Eureka police department officer responded to a call based upon reports of possible DUI and leaving the scene of an accident by McDole in the city of Eureka. McDole, 734 P.2d at 684. After the officer arrived at McDole's residence, outside the city of Eureka, McDole walked out of his house and said, Take me! Takeme! This statement combined with the Eureka police officer's own observations led him to believe that McDole may have been driving under the influence of alcohol. The Eureka police officer proceeded to arrest McDole, take him to the police department and give him a breath test. McDole, 734 P.2d at 684-85. In McDole, this Court held that a police officer outside his or her jurisdiction has not lost his or her status as a citizen. McDole, 734 P.2d at 685. This Court explained if an arrest by a private citizen would be lawful under the existing circumstances, the arrest by an officer out of his jurisdiction would be lawful. McDole, 734 P.2d at 685. As in McDole, Woodland was clearly outside his jurisdiction when he stopped Hendrickson. When Woodland stopped Hendrickson and observed behavior indicative of intoxication, he was acting as a private citizen under the authority of § 46-6-502, MCA.