Opinion ID: 775859
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: The Alleged Traffic Violations

Text: 11 In applying this standard, we review the district court's factual findings for clear error, viewing the evidence in a light most favorable to the government and considering the totality of the circumstances. United States v. Gutierrez-Daniez, 131 F.3d 939, 940-41 (10th Cir. 1997). We review de novo whether those facts provided sufficient justification for a detention. Ornelas v. United States, 517 U.S. 690, 699 (1996); United States v. Shareef, 100 F.3d 1491, 1499 (10th Cir. 1996). 12 Officer Voigt asserts that he had reasonable suspicion to stop the vehicle for violating two separate regulations: (1) driving with a cracked windshield; and (2) failing to signal while turning. Kansas law provides: No person shall drive any motor vehicle with a damaged front windshield or side or rear windows which substantially obstructs the driver's clear view of the highway or any intersecting highway. Kan. Stat. Ann. 8-1741(b). Streeter's windshield had a crack about 12 inches across and 6 inches high, large enough that Officer Voigt could view it from behind the car. This gave Officer Voigt reasonable articulable suspicion a particularized and objective basis to believe that the crack substantially obstructed Streeter's view of the street. Cortez, 449 U.S. at 417-18. It is irrelevant whether the observed crack was, in fact, large enough to constitute a violation of the law. United States v. Cushman, 216 F.3d 582, 587 (7th Cir. 2000) (holding that a cracked windshield provided probable cause for a stop even if the crack was not actually large enough to violate the law). The traffic stop was therefore justified, and the district court did not err in denying Callarman's motion to suppress. 13 Because we find that Officer Voigt had reasonable suspicion that Streeter violated one regulation, we need not address Voigt's second justification Streeter's failure to signal when turning from a private parking lot onto a public highway.