Court Opinion

ID: 9700336
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-25 21:22:03.175802+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:10:33.840248
License: Public Domain

COLLINS, Justice,
dissenting.
I respectfully dissent. In my view, the trial court’s finding that the stop was supported by an objectively reasonable and ar-ticulable suspicion did not constitute clear error.
The stop in this instance was not based on mere speculation that Nelson was driving while under the influence. Rather, the officer had observed Nelson drinking a 16 ounce beer, at 1:30 in the morning on Christmas Eve, while parked in the parking lot of a housing complex for the elderly from which several complaints of theft had been registered. These observed facts, in combination with the recognition of the common practice in American society of having a second beer, gave the officer an articulable suspicion that Nelson was operating his truck while under the influence of alcohol. The officer’s suspicion was objectively reasonable given the totality of the circumstances. As such, I believe the stop was justified and I would affirm the trial court.