Court Opinion

ID: 9689039
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 18:17:08.727738+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:18:43.619992
License: Public Domain

G. R. Deneweth, J.
(dissenting). I must respectfully dissent. I have no quarrel with the statement of facts in my brothers’ opinion. I do not, however, believe that the search of the vehicle itself or the scope of that search was unreasonable in any way whatsoever. I would affirm.
As my brothers point out, the validity of inventory searches of vehicles has been upheld repeatedly. This includes searches of glove compartments. See South Dakota v Opperman, 428 US 364; 96 S Ct 3092; 49 L Ed 2d 1000 (1976). The test whether the search is unreasonable depends upon the facts and circumstances of each case.
In the case at bar, the car was stopped on the highway, and, as my brothers note, was a proper subject for an impoundment and for an inventory search.
*609Marijuana, a perishable substance, was found in the glove compartment. The possession of marijuana being illegal, it amounted to contraband. Given the plethora of cases that have appeared before this Court, it would appear that its members ought to take judicial notice that marijuana is frequently secreted in the more inaccessible parts of motor vehicles. Surely, all law enforcement personnel are aware of this fact.
The evidence shows at least two circumstances justifying the second search. The car was on a highway, was a danger to other traffic, and was already discovered to have contained contraband in one of its compartments, i.e., the glove compartment. See Chambers v Maroney, 399 US 42; 90 S Ct 1975; 26 L Ed 2d 419 (1970). Moreover, there was a clear possibility that the occupants of the vehicle could have had unknown confederates who would return to remove the secreted contraband. Id. These exigent circumstances justified Sergeant Hawks’ second search.
I would affirm.