Opinion ID: 161130
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Scope of Stop

Text: Defendant next argues the scope of the stop exceeded the original justification for the stop. Specifically, Defendant argues Trooper Rule unlawfully detained him in violation of the Fourth Amendment by continuing to question him after returning his driver’s license and vehicle registration. “Generally, an investigative detention must ‘last no longer than is necessary to effectuate the purpose of the stop.’” United States v. Patten, 183 F.3d 1190, 1193 (10th Cir. 1999) (quoting Florida v. Royer, 460 U.S. 491, 500 (1983)). “When a driver has produced a valid license and proof of entitlement to operate the vehicle, an officer may issue a citation, but then usually must allow the driver 3 In finding that Trooper Rule had probable cause to justify the traffic stop, the district court also relied on the fact that Defendant’s license plate was partially obstructed in violation of Kansas law. See Kan. Stat. Ann. § 8-133 (“Every license plate shall at all times be . . . in a place and position to be clearly visible, and shall be maintained free from foreign materials and in a condition to be clearly legible.”). We need not reach this issue because we conclude Defendant’s violation of Kan. Stat. Ann. § 8-1522 justified the traffic stop. 8 to proceed without further delay or questioning.” Id. Two exceptions to this general rule exist. “An officer may question the driver further if (1) the officer has an objectively reasonable and articulable suspicion that the driver is engaged in illegal activity, or (2) the driver voluntarily consents to further questioning.” Id. Defendant claims the district court did not find the troopers had reasonable suspicion to justify further questioning and suggests the record does not support reasonable suspicion. Such a finding, however, is unnecessary when a driver voluntarily consents to further questioning. Trooper Rule returned Defendant’s license and registration, issued him a warning citation, and told Defendant that was all he “had for him.” Only then did Trooper Rule request consent to ask further questions. Defendant concedes he voluntarily consented to the questioning, at least to the point where Trooper Jimerson asked to search Defendant’s pockets. Because Defendant consented to further questioning, his continued detention after Trooper Rule returned his license and registration did not violate the Fourth Amendment.4 4 Defendant relies on United States v. Holt, 229 F.3d 931 (10th Cir. 2000), reh’g en banc granted, Dec. 1, 2000, for the proposition that further questioning of one detained at a traffic stop that is unrelated to the purpose of the stop is not permitted unless the officer has reasonable suspicion of illegal activity. Aplt’s Br. at 14. In Holt, we held a highway patrol officer exceeded the reasonable scope of a routine traffic stop for a seat belt violation by questioning the defendant about possession of contraband and weapons. Id. at 940. The questioning in Holt occurred while the officer was writing out a citation, was unrelated to the purpose of the stop, was not prompted by a reasonable suspicion of illegal activity, and was not motivated by safety concerns. Id. Thus, Holt concerned the scope of initial questioning by the officer before the officer had issued any citation, before the officer had returned the driver’s license, and before the defendant was free to go. In this case, however, Trooper Rule had returned Defendant’s license, issued a citation, and informed Defendant that was all he had before the trooper asked for (continued...) 9