Opinion ID: 673830
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Vehicle Stops

Text: 23 Cleveland Johnson was stopped twice by the police in his vehicle. He alleges that both stops violated his Fourth Amendment rights and thus evidence flowing from them should have been suppressed. Specifically, Cleveland Johnson claims that the police lacked reasonable articulable suspicion for the stops. As to the September 8, 1988 stop, the district court found that Cleveland Johnson's car lacked license plates. As to the November 9, 1988 stop, the district court found that both police officers on the scene articulated a valid reason for the stop: either travelling at an excessive speed through an intersection or an improper lane change. The district court found no evidence of pretext. These findings were not clearly erroneous. Because [w]hen an officer observes a traffic offense--however minor--he has probable cause to stop the driver of the vehicle, United States v. Cummins, 920 F.2d 498, 500 (8th Cir.1990), cert. denied, --- U.S. ----, 112 S.Ct. 428, 116 L.Ed.2d 448, 449 (1991), we affirm the denial of the motion to suppress evidence flowing from these stops.