Document: 422 U.S. 916 95 S.Ct. 2569 45 L.Ed.2d 641 John Lee BOWEN, Petitioner,v.UNITED STATES. No. 73—6848. Argued Feb. 18, 1975. Decided June 30, Syllabus The principles of Almeida-Sanchez v. United States, 413 266, 93 2535, 37 596, that the Fourth Amendment prohibits Border Patrol from using roving patrols to search vehicles, without a warrant or probable cause, at points removed border and its functional equivalents, will not be applied retroactively invalidate searches occurred prior date decision. States Peltier, 531, 2313, 374. As Court Appeals in this case correctly decided did apply retroactively, petitioner is entitled benefit court's further but unnecessary ruling extended traffic checkpoints. Pp. 918-921. 500 F.2d 960, 9th Cir. affirmed. Mark L. Evans, Washington, D.C., for States. Michael D. Nasatir, Beverly Hills, Cal., Bowen. Mr. Justice POWELL delivered opinion Court. 1 Petitioner was convicted federal drug offenses based on evidence seized January 1971 when officers stopped his camper pickup checkpoint California Highway 86, about 36 air miles Mexican border. first determined citizen, then asked him open so they could concealed aliens. When opened door, one officer noticed strong odor marihuana. He entered discovered approximately 356 pounds drug. A subsequent passenger compartment produced number benzedrine tablets. 2 Ninth Circuit affirmed petitioner's conviction, rejecting argument unlawful. 462 347 (1972). petition certiorari pending we announced our decision 596 (1973), holding use with neither nor equivalents. We vacated judgment remanded reconsideration light Almeida-Sanchez. 915, 3069, 1038 (1973). 3 reheard en banc held, sharply divided opinion, conducted checkpoints as well by patrols. nevertheless would 960 (1974). granted resolve an apparent conflict Tenth King, 485 353 Maddox, 361 4 hold today Ortiz, 891, 2585, 623, Amendment, interpreted Almeida-Sanchez, forbids searching cars absence consent cause. In Government does contend 86 equivalent border, had cause camper, consented search. primary question whether should have been retroactively. 5 374 (1975), refused roving-patrol before 21, 1973, even though direct appeal date. think Peltier controlling here, reasons dictated nonretroactivity are equally applicable. At time all Courts circuits adjacent held immigration automobiles E.g., McCormick, 468 68 (CA10 1972); De Leon, 170 (CA5 Fumagalli 429 1011 (CA9 1970).1 This ruled question, no contrary precedent reported other Appeals. reasonably relied decisions performing others like it, these circumstances purposes exclusionary rule served applying 6 argues if he Appeals' searches. invokes Court's practice new constitutional doctrine establishes point,2 maintains refusal extension made discussion point mere dictum. conclude, however, only error reaching out decide require issue. 7 raised two questions Appeals: it did, consistently has declined address unsettled regarding scope establishing cases which holds those nonretroactive. Michigan Payne, 412 47, 49—50, 1966, 1967—1968, 736 (1973); DeStefano Woods, 392 631, 88 2093, 20 1308 (1968). rooted reluctance unnecessarily. See Raines, 362 17, 80 519, (1960); Ashwander TVA, 297 288, 346—347, 56 466, 482—483, L.Ed. 688, 524 (1936) (Brandeis, J., concurring). Because turn grounded role courts, supra, district courts appeals follow practice, issues both retroactivity application raised, deciding issue first. search, refrained considering 8 contends, nevertheless, once addressed bound case. do so, says court rendered hypothetical forbidden Art. III Constitution. It true suggested impetus doctrines establish them time. Stovall Denno, 388 293, 301, 87 1967, 1972, 18 1199 (1967). But altogether different. already established principle, there genuine controversy between over retroactive application. Contrary assertion, jurisdiction dislodged 9 10 Affirmed. 11 DOUGLAS dissents stated dissent 543, 2320, 385. 12 BRENNAN MARSHALL reverse substantially expressed BRENNAN's 544, 2321, 13 STEWART dissents. While approving aliens, limited Patrol's authority contraband away Cervantes 263 800 (1959); see (1970). invalid under because agent engaged legal Circuit's decisions, developed believe contained There some ground confusion state law Fifth decided. Early officers' aliens Ramirez 385 Kelly 197 162 (1952). Later took same view, e.g., (1972), although seemed qualified requirement location operation reasonable. McDaniel, 463 129, 133 Two panels ambiguously must supported 'reasonable suspicion.' Wright, 476 1027 Maggard, 451 502 (1971). later adopt distinction contraband, suggesting suspicion while customs required foundation believing particular car contraband. Thompson, 475 1359, 1362 Neither suspicion' resulted invalidating none opinions indicated disagreement earlier unqualified right whose were Under circumstances, conclude continuing make (1967); compare Duncan Louisiana, 391 145, 1444, 491 (1968), (1968); North Carolina Pearce, 395 711, 89 2072, 23 656 (1969),

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