Court Opinion

ID: 9628392
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 09:18:50.204702+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:05:39.927648
License: Public Domain

Williams, J.*
(dissenting)—The majority states that "[t]here were no grounds for a custodial arrest of Kincaid". Majority, at 659. Based on this statement, the majority holds that State v. Stroud, 106 Wn.2d 144, 720 P.2d 436 (1986) is inapplicable. I disagree and dissent.
Kincaid was arrested for driving after his operator's license had been revoked, in violation of RCW 46.20.342. While custodial arrests are not authorized for most traffic offenses, the Legislature has specifically provided for custodial arrests in certain settings. RCW 10.31.100 provides in pertinent part:
A police officer may arrest a person without a warrant for committing a misdemeanor or gross misdemeanor only when the offense is committed in the presence of the officer, except as provided in subsections (1) through (8) of this section.
(3) Any police officer having probable cause to believe that a person has committed or is committing a violation of any of the following traffic laws shall have the authority to arrest the person:
(e) RCW 46.20.342, relating to driving a motor vehicle while operator's license is suspended or revoked;
*662The officer had the authority to make a custodial arrest of Kincaid. Having such authority, he also had the authority to conduct a vehicle search incident to that arrest. State v. Stroud, supra. I would hold that the search of the vehicle was legal. Further, I would hold that Stortroen's statement that "[t]he other stuff in the car is mine, too" was admissible. Majority, at 657. The search being legal, there could be no taint of the statement resulting in its inadmissibility.
I respectfully dissent.6
Reconsideration denied April 25, 1989.

Judge Ward Williams is serving as a judge pro tempore of the Court of Appeals pursuant to CAR 21(c).

 By way of surrebuttal to footnote 4, I would point out that there was probable cause to arrest for driving with a suspended or revoked license, and this gave the officer authority to conduct a search and to seize incriminating evidence. RCW 10.31.100(3)(e); State v. Stroud, supra. The majority fails to understand the purpose of the exclusionary rule established in Wong Sun v. United States, 371 U.S. 471, 484-88, 9 L. Ed. 2d 441, 83 S. Ct. 407 (1963), and thereby reduces it to an absurdity. The holding completes the irony formulated by a number of judges who seem to believe that in a criminal case the subjective belief or opinion of the police officer is on trial. Even a police officer should not be rendered culpable for what he thinks.