Court Opinion

ID: 9634494
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 13:14:43.722224+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T09:42:49.017680
License: Public Domain

MONTGOMERY, Judge,
dissenting:
Although recognizing that the arrest of appellant was for a summary violation of the Motor Vehicle Code which required a citation that was not issued, the majority justifies the subsequent search of appellant for the reason that an arrest without a warrant was permitted under the second class township code 53 P.S. 65591. The record is clear that the appellant was not arrested for a violation of the township code or ever charged with such a violation. He was arrested without a warrant, handcuffed, and subsequently charged with the Motor Vehicle Code violation “Pedestrian under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance” which did not justify a warrantless arrest.
*563With full appreciation of the propriety of the discretion exercised by the police officers in restraining the appellant from doing harm to himself and others, I cannot agree that the arrest was legal as to justify the subsequent search of the appellant’s person.
I would affirm the lower court in suppressing the evidence discovered by that search.