Opinion ID: 522980
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Size of the Trunk

Text: 16 As further justification for its detention of Robert L's vehicle, the government offers the fact that the car in question, an older model Oldsmobile Cutlass, had an expansive trunk that was as Agent Truty put it, capable of carrying large amounts of anything. Since the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Brignoni-Ponce, 422 U.S. 873, 95 S.Ct. 2574, 45 L.Ed.2d 607 (1975), it is well settled that certain characteristics of the vehicle detained may support a finding of reasonable suspicion. In the instant case, however, the government has been unable to advance any evidence specifically linking appellant's car to those vehicles typically used in smuggling operations. The car was not specially outfitted in any way. Nor was it of a particular make or model that has been expressly linked to drug trafficking. In fact, Agent Truty admitted that a large number of cars have similar, or even greater, trunk capacity. Finally, no testimony indicated that appellant's trunk appeared to be heavily loaded, a circumstance that could legitimately be used as a means of differentiating between Robert L's car and other, similarly-situated vehicles. See Brignoni-Ponce, 422 U.S. at 885, 95 S.Ct. at 2582; United States v. Barnard, 553 F.2d 389, 391 (5th Cir.1977). We cannot say that trunk size is wholly irrelevant to the founded suspicion calculus. However, where, as here, the automobile in question has no other distinguishing attributes, large trunk size provides scant support for the Government's assertion that its actions were justified.