Opinion ID: 2755743
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Did Trooper Brame Lose Authority to Arrest

Text: Ms. Simpson by Issuing a Citation? Ms. Simpson makes an alternative argument: Even if Trooper Brame initially had probable cause for an arrest, he lost probable cause to make or arrest for the seatbelt violations once he issued a citation. In Ms. Simpson’s view, Trooper Brame needed “new” probable cause for the arrest. For this proposition, she cites a Kansas statutory provision pertaining to citations for misdemeanor traffic offenses. This provision states that - 10 - ● a law enforcement officer has discretion to permit a violator to give a written promise to appear in court and ● when this occurs, “the law enforcement officer shall deliver a copy of the citation to the person and shall not take the person into physical custody.” Kan. Stat. Ann. § 8-2106(e) (emphasis added). Ms. Simpson is essentially making a state-law argument, assuming that a violation of Kansas law would render the arrest unconstitutional. This argument misconceives the nature of a Fourth Amendment violation and the state law. The assumption is incorrect because a violation of state law does not typically create a Fourth Amendment violation. See Moore, 553 U.S. at 176 (“[W]hile States are free to regulate . . . arrests however they desire, state restrictions do not alter the Fourth Amendment’s protections.”). Ms. Simpson’s argument also distorts state law because it required her to sign the notice and the initial citation did not prevent a subsequent arrest. She cites this Kansas provision: (e) Except in the circumstances to which subsection (a) of K.S.A. 8-2104, and amendments thereto, apply, in the discretion of the law enforcement officer, a person charged with a misdemeanor may give written promise to appear in court by signing at least one copy of the written citation prepared by the law enforcement officer, in which event the law enforcement officer shall deliver a copy of the citation to the person and shall not take the person into physical custody. - 11 - Kan. Stat. Ann. § 8-2106(e) (emphasis added). This law contemplates that the violator will make a written promise to appear by signing the written citation. But, Ms. Simpson admits that she did not sign the citation. Aplt. Opening Br. at 14. Instead, she ripped it up. Ms. Simpson cannot rely on a statutory right to avoid arrest by signing a document that she ripped up rather than sign. Thus, § 8-2106(e) did not require Trooper Brame to obtain new justification before arresting Ms. Simpson.