Legal Document

526 U.S. 541119 S.Ct. 1545143 L.Ed. 2d 731 SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES No. 98 223 FLORIDA, PETITIONERv.TYVESSEL TYVORUS WHITE ON WRIT CERTIORARI TO FLORIDA [May 17, 1999] Justice Thomas delivered the opinion of Court. 1 The Florida Contraband Forfeiture Act provides that certain forms contraband, including motor vehicles used in violation Act's provisions, may be seized and potentially forfeited. In this case, we must decide whether Fourth Amendment requires police to obtain a warrant before seizing an automobile from public place when they have probable cause believe it is forfeitable contraband. We hold does not. 2 * On three occasions July August 1993, officers observed respondent Tyvessel Tyvorus White using his car deliver cocaine, thereby developed was subject for-feiture under (Act), Fla. Stat. §932.701 et seq. (1997).1 Several months later, arrested at employment on charges unrelated drug transactions 1993. At same time, arresting officers, without securing warrant, respondent's accordance with provisions Act. See §932.703(2)(a).2 They vehicle solely because believed During subsequent inventory search, found two pieces crack cocaine ashtray. Based discovery charged possession controlled substance law. 3 trial charge, filed motion suppress evidence discovered during search. He argued warrantless seizure violated Amendment, making "fruit poisonous tree." court initially reserved ruling motion, but later denied after jury returned guilty verdict. appeal, First District Court Appeal affirmed. 680 So. 550 (1996). Adopting position majority state federal courts considered question, rejected argument required secure prior vehicle. Id., 554. Because Supreme had not directly addressed issue, certified question whether, absent exigent circumstances, Amendment. 555. 4 divided opinion, answered affirmative, quashed Appeal's remanded. 710 949, 955 (1998). concluded that, property has been Ibid. According court, fact develop such occurred not, standing alone, justify seizure. expressly holding Eleventh Circuit, see United States v. Valdes, 876 F.2d 1554 (1989), other Federal Circuits issue context civil forfeiture law, 21 C. §881, which similar Florida's. Decker, 19 F.3d 287 (CA6 1994) (per curiam); Pace, 898 1218, 1241 (CA7 1990); One 1978 Mercedes Benz, 711 1297 (CA5 1983); Kemp, 690 397 (CA4 1982); Bush, 647 357 (CA3 1981). But Dixon, 1080 (CA10 1993); Lasanta, 978 1300 (CA2 1992); Linn, 880 209 (CA9 1989). granted certiorari, 525 ___ (1998), now reverse. II 5 guarantees "[t]he right people their persons, houses, papers, effects, against unreasonable searches seizures," further "no Warrants shall upon cause." Const., Amdt. 4. deciding challenged governmental action violates taken care inquire regarded as unlawful search framed. Wyoming Houghton, ___, (1999); Carroll States, 267 132, 149 (1925) ("The construed light what deemed adopted, manner will conserve interests well rights individual citizens"). 6 Carroll, held contains require them searching for Our rooted law enforcement practice time adoption Specifically, looked laws First, Second, Congresses authorized conduct ships seize concealed goods duties. 150 151 (citing 31, 1789, §§24, 29, 43; Aug. 4, 1790, §50, 170; Feb. 18, 1793, §27, 315; Mar. 2, 1799, §§68 70, 677, 678). These enactments led us conclude "contemporaneously Amendment," Congress distinguished "the necessity between forfeiture, dwelling house or place, like course transportation movable vessel where readily could put out reach warrant." U.S., 151. 7 recognized car, obtaining if contained however, itself also appropriate its progeny. It reasoned "[t]here vast difference permitting immediate based actual knowledge then contraband [and] discretionary citizen's belief some past assist illegal activity." 2d, 953. disagree. 8 principles underlying rule founding-era statutes are fully support conclusion did violate Although, observed, lacked 953, certainly law.3 Recognition need spirited away undoubtedly underlies early relied Carroll. 152; California Carney, 471 386, 390 (1985); South Dakota Opperman, 428 364, 367 (1976). This equally weighty automobile, opposed contents, seek secure.4 Furthermore, Act, both duties those were concealed. See, e.g., 43, 46; 170, 174; 678, 692. 9 addition special considerations items, our jurisprudence consistently accorded officials greater latitude exercising places. For example, although presumptively felony arrest suspect's home, permits arrests places officer occurred. Watson, 423 411, 416 424 explaining rule, drawn established "distinction open area private premises." Payton New York, 445 573, 587 (1980); id., 586 ("It settled objects weapons by warrant"). principle Watson extends case. Indeed, facts case nearly indistinguishable G. M. Leasing Corp. 429 338 (1977). There, agents failing automobiles partial satisfaction income tax assessments. 351. reasoning seizures took streets, parking lots, places, involve any invasion privacy." Here, employer's lot privacy. relevant history precedent, therefore these circumstances. 10 judgment reversed, remanded proceedings inconsistent opinion. 11 so ordered. Notes 12 1. That provides, part: "Any article, vessel, vehicle, aircraft, personal property, real provision in, upon, means taking forfeited." §932.703(1)(a) (1997). 13 2. Nothing State Pomerance, 434 329, 330 (Fla. Ct. App. 1983). Rather, simply "[p]ersonal violation, person entitled notice notified there adversarial preliminary hearing determine exists being Act." §932.703(2)(a). 14 3. defines "contraband" include "vehicle kind, instrumentality commission of, aiding abetting felony." §932.701(2)(a)(5). 15 oral argument, contended delay actually undercuts necessary prevent removing jurisdiction. express no about excessive render stale, Souter, J., concurring 16 whom Breyer joins, concurring. 17 I join Court's qualification reading general endorsement anything chooses call "contraband," happens seized. concede talismanic significance use term whenever legislature resort novel sanction interest enforcement, legislatures evincing increasing ingenuity doing, cf., Bennis Michigan, 516 442, 443 446 (1996); 458 (Stevens, dissenting); James Daniel Good Real Property, 510 81 82, n. (1993) (Thomas, part dissenting part) (expressing concern breadth new statutes). Moreover, (1977), (upon rely today) endorsed character scheme reference traditional government revenue laws, 351 352, 18 (citing, Murray's Lessee Hoboken Land & Improvement Co., How. 272 (1856)), legality abandoned view, 352 Hester 265 57 (1924)). Stevens, Ginsburg dissenting. summer obtained engaged sale delivery narcotics, he facilitate enterprise. reasons unexplained, neither point nor alleged narcotics offenses. Most important resolution White's fall over last event justified Instead, work matter keys, performed seizure, circumstances present, invalid. 949 (1998).1 20 1971, advising "we lose sight Amendment's fundamental guarantee," Stewart made comment law: "[T]he most basic constitutional 'searches conducted outside judicial process, approval judge magistrate, per se only few specifically well-delineated exceptions.' exceptions 'jealously carefully drawn,' 'a showing who exemption exigencies situation imperative.' '[T]he burden seeking show it.' " Coolidge Hampshire, 403 443, 453, 454 455 (footnotes omitted). 22 plainly "protects privacy" searches, Soldal Cook County, 506 56, 62 64 (1992), would apply present longstanding presumption.2 authorities, presumption might overcome more easily absence accompanying privacy liberty interest. Nevertheless, look clause measure reasonableness cases, Dist. Eastern Mich., 407 297, 315 (1972), do convince me role neutral magistrate dispensable. 23 disavow urged followed Court, decision suggests all swallowed rule. To defend officers' points cases establishing "automobile exception" ordinary demand lawful conducted. Each involved temporary effect searches.3 Such intrusions comport customs Nation's relies, practicalities modern life. traditions realities weak itself, proverbially tainted physical proximity trade, while owner safely custody. 24 stated purposes allowing likewise insufficient validate one emphasizes ready mobility pervasive regulation diminishes owner's property. No seriously State's regulatory regime road safety makes acceptable unchecked permanent criminal laws. And, cogently explained, circumstance rationale available activity already custody.4 court's process sensible protection abuse power bolstered inherent risks hindsight post-seizure hearings agencies' pecuniary §932.704(1) (1997); cf. 55 56 (1993). 25 Were confronted citizens possess regardless purpose, plain-view doctrine, perhaps defensible. Horton California, 496 128 (1990); Arizona Hicks, 480 321, 327 (1987) 573 (1980)). '[t]here nothing even remotely possessing automobile,' Austin 509 602, 621 (quoting 1958 Plymouth Sedan Pennsylvania, 380 693, 699 (1965)); serious fear loss can asserted considering seizure; exception 952; Brief Petitioner 6, 28.5 26 event, seems treatment added reason insisting appraisal rather than justification expanding authority police. Unlike contemporaneous officer's probable-cause determination, Horton, 130 131, belated intrusion innocent persons connection earlier offense. Cf. 442 And supported illegally especially intrusive routine predictable though basis believing wrongdoing.6 27 Of course, requiring warrants allay every owners regarding discretion Had August, nevertheless executed later; and, suggests, ante, 5, effectuation objection obtained. said, application interjects decisionmaker, matter, Connally Georgia, 245, 250 251 (1977) curiam), shifts individual. Knowing party help ensure initiate truly justified. A requirement attendant opportunity official mischief through timing, surely tolerable. 28 Without legitimate exception, should prevail. particularly troubling aspect excuse either arrest, offers all. cannot authorities feared investigation exposed hindered Ex parte applications provide review determinations cause, procedures public. take advantage them. record, assume preferred avoid hassle officer. permit bare convenience preference check arbitrary agencies "engaged often competitive" here, lucrative "enterprise ferreting crime." Johnson 333 10, (1948). 29 agree reasonable respectfully dissent. 30 read suggest due protections Constitution independently 952 (discussing Department Law Enforcement 588 957 (1991)). However, referred Constitution. 950. Thus, viable presented limits statutory safeguards. 31 E.g., 318 (1972) ("Though speaks broadly 'unreasonable seizures,' definition 'reasonableness' turns, least part, specific commands clause"); (1971); Katz 389 347, (1967); (1948); Harris 331 145, 162 (1947) (Frankfurter, dissenting) ("[W]ith minor severely confined exceptions, inferentially magistrate's expressed validly issued warrant"), overruled Chimel 395 752 (1969); Shadwick Tampa, 345, 348 (noting accepted someone independent prosecution cause"); Wong Sun 371 471, 481 482 (1963). 32 153 (where "contraband transported searched warrant"); Ross, 456 798, 820, 26, 825 (1982) ("During virtually entire country horse-drawn carriage, 1921 roadster, assumed container conceal object search"); __, __ (1999) (slip op., 5); Pennsylvania Labron, 518 938, 940 (1996) curiam) ("If mobile thus more"). 33 953 954 1998) ("There here missed focus prize activities, known therein, lost immediately"). notes, confront, substantial 34 5. There force majority's reliance 411 (1976), Ante, 6. With respect consider far substantial, historical legal engrained, 415 424; (Powell, concurring) ("[L]ogic sometimes defer experience"). 35 misplaced. assessment "given judgment." (internal quotation marks emphasized interest, possessory way judgment. despite plenty pre-seizure police, acted entirely own probative relating events. addition, apparently extinguished until, earliest, place. §§932.703(1)(c) (d) (1997) (the acquires rights, title articles agency until "perfected" statute); §932.704(8); 63 (1992). aims, (1997), distinguish mundane needs, tow no-parking zone. contends

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