Document: 540 U.S. 366 MARYLANDv.PRINGLE No. 02-809. Supreme Court of United States. Argued November 3, 2003. Decided December 15, A police officer stopped a car for speeding at 3:16 a.m.; searched the car, seizing $763 from glove compartment and cocaine behind back-seat armrest; arrested car's three occupants after they denied ownership drugs money. Respondent Pringle, front-seat passenger, was convicted possession with intent to distribute cocaine, sentenced 10 years' incarceration without possibility parole. The Maryland Special Appeals affirmed, but State reversed, holding that, absent specific facts tending show Pringle's knowledge dominion or control over drugs, mere finding in back armrest when Pringle passenger being driven by its owner insufficient establish probable cause an arrest possession. Held: Because had did not contravene Fourth Fourteenth Amendments. law authorizes officers execute warrantless arrests, inter alia, where has believe that felony been committed is officer's presence. Here, it uncontested officer, upon recovering suspected committed; question whether he crime. "substance all definitions reasonable ground belief guilt," Brinegar v. States, 338 U. S. 160, 175, must be particularized respect person seized, Ybarra Illinois, 444 85, 91. To determine make arrest, court examine events leading up then decide "whether these historical facts, viewed standpoint objectively amount to" cause. Ornelas 517 690, 696. As entirely inference here any of, exercised over, could conclude there crime either solely jointly. attempt characterize this as guilt-by-association case unavailing. supra, States Di Re, 332 581, distinguished. Pp. 369-374. 370 Md. 525, 805 A. 2d 1016, reversed remanded. REHNQUIST, C. J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. 1 CERTIORARI TO THE COURT OF APPEALS MARYLAND. 2 Gary E. Bair, Solicitor General Maryland, argued petitioner. With him on briefs were J. Joseph Curran, Jr., Attorney General, Kathryn Grill Graeff Shannon Avery, Assistant Attorneys General. 3 Sri Srinivasan amicus curiae urging reversal. brief Olson, Chertoff, Deputy Dreeben, Deborah Watson. 4 Nancy Forster respondent. her Stephen Harris Sherrie Glasser.* 5 CHIEF JUSTICE REHNQUIST 6 In early morning hours occupied men officer. searching seized rolled-up cash five glassine baggies between seat. After money, each them. We hold — one men. 7 At a.m. August 7, 1999, Baltimore County Police Nissan Maxima speeding. There car: Donte Partlow, driver owner, respondent Otis Smith, passenger. asked Partlow his license registration. When opened retrieve vehicle registration, observed large money compartment. returned patrol Partlow's registration check computer system outstanding violations. reveal get out, issued oral warning. 8 second arrived, if weapons narcotics vehicle. indicated not. consented search yielded plastic containing armrest. began upright position flat against rear pulled down found which placed seat car. 9 questioned about told them no admitted going all. offered information regarding All under transported station. Later morning, waived rights Miranda Arizona, 384 436 (1966), gave written confession acknowledged belonged him, friends party, intended sell "[u]se sex." App. 26. maintained other know released. 11 trial motion suppress fruit illegal Pringle. jury cocaine. He affirmed. 141 292, 785 790 (2001). 12 divided vote, "the [Pringle] front possession." 545, 1027 (2002). granted certiorari, 538 921 (2003), now reverse. 13 Under Amendment, made applicable Mapp Ohio, 367 643 (1961), people are "to secure their persons, houses, papers, effects, unreasonable searches seizures, . Warrants shall issue, ." Const., Amdt. 4. felonies presence Ann. Code, Art. 27, § 594B (1996) (repealed 2001). individual public place felony, misdemeanor presence, consistent Amendment supported Watson, 423 411, 424 (1976); see Atwater Lago Vista, 532 318, 354 (2001) (stating "[i]f even very minor criminal offense may, violating offender"). 14 It present committed. 287 2002) (prohibiting controlled dangerous substances). sole crime.1 15 long-prevailing standard protects "citizens rash interferences privacy unfounded charges crime," while giving "fair leeway enforcing community's protection." 176 (1949). On many occasions, we have reiterated probable-cause "`practical, nontechnical conception'" deals "`the factual practical considerations everyday life prudent men, legal technicians, act.'" Illinois Gates, 462 213, 231 (1983) (quoting Brinegar, 175-176); see, e. g., 695 (1996); Sokolow, 490 1, 7-8 (1989). "[P]robable fluid concept turning assessment probabilities particular contexts readily, usefully, reduced neat set rules." U.S., 232. 16 incapable precise definition quantification into percentages because depends totality circumstances. See ibid.; S., 175. stated, however, "[t]he substance ibid. (internal quotation marks citations omitted), guilt 91 (1979). noted: 17 "As Locke Cranch 339, 348 (1813), Chief Justice Marshall observed, closely related context: `[T]he term "probable cause," according usual acceptation, means less than evidence would justify condemnation. imports seizure circumstances warrant suspicion.' More recently, said `the quanta proof' appropriate ordinary judicial proceedings inapplicable decision issue warrant. 173. Finely tuned standards such proof beyond doubt preponderance evidence, useful formal trials, [probable-cause] decision." 235. 18 individual, cause, Ornelas, 19 case, riding directly Pringle.2 Five accessible Upon questioning, failed offer 20 think Thus, 21 His reliance 581 (1948), misplaced. Ybarra, obtained tavern bartender substance. entering tavern, conducted patdown customers including Ybarra. Inside cigarette pack retrieved Ybarra's pocket, six tinfoil packets heroin. stated: 22 "[A] person's propinquity others independently activity does not, more, give rise person. Sibron New York, 392 40, 62-63 (1968). Where This requirement cannot undercut avoided simply pointing fact coincidentally exists seize another premises may happen be." 23 held permit body tavern's patrons pat weapons, individualized suspicion. Id., 92. 24 quite different two companions relatively small automobile, tavern. Wyoming Houghton, 526 295 (1999), noted "a unlike unwitting patron will often engaged common enterprise driver, same interest concealing fruits wrongdoing." 304-305. Here infer among quantity likelihood drug dealing, dealer unlikely admit innocent potential furnish him. federal investigator informant, Reed, receive counterfeit gasoline ration coupons certain Buttitta place. went appointed saw occupant coupons. driver's Re passenger's Reed informed given Thereupon, searched. noting implicating Re's coupons, unless warranted inference, concluded lacked involved 592-594. "[a]ny everyone scene party disappear Government informer singles out guilty person." 594. No singling occurred case; none provided 25 therefore Accordingly, judgment remanded further inconsistent opinion. 26 so ordered. Notes: * Briefs ofamici reversal filed Ohio et al. Jim Petro, Douglas R. Cole, Solicitor, P. Carney, Senior Diane Richards Brey, respective jurisdictions follows: William H. Pryor, Alabama, Gregg Renkes Alaska, Christopher L. Morano Connecticut, M. Jane Brady Delaware, Mark Bennett Hawaii, Lisa Madigan Richard Ieyoub Louisiana, Michael Cox Michigan, Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon Missouri, Mike McGrath Montana, Brian Sandoval Nevada, Patricia Madrid Mexico, Drew Edmondson Oklahoma, Anabelle Rodríguez Puerto Rico, Henry Dargan McMaster South Carolina, Larry Long Dakota, Greg Abbott Texas, Shurtleff Utah, Jerry Kilgore Virginia, Darrell V. McGraw, West Virginia; Criminal Legal Foundation Kent Scheidegger Charles Hobson. Steven Shapiro Kemler American Civil Liberties Union amici affirmance. defines "possession" exercise actual constructive thing more persons." 277(s) dismissed factor determination, stating "[m]oney, innocuous." 524, 546, 1028 court's consideration isolation, rather circumstances, mistaken light our precedents. See,e. 230-231 (opining approach prior treatment cause); 175-176 (1949) ("Probable within [the officers'] reasonably trustworthy [are] sufficient themselves man caution that' committed"). abundantly clear involves alone.

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