Court Opinion

ID: 9460833
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-04 22:01:16.890119+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:36:48.000344
License: Public Domain

WALLACE, Circuit Judge
(concurring) :
I concur. As this case involves a roving patrol search, United States v. Peltier, 500 F.2d 985 (9th Cir. 1974) (en banc) governs and reversal is appropriate. This search does not qualify as occurring at a temporary checkpoint. As stated in United States v. Baca, 368 F.Supp. 398, 406-407 (S.D.Cal.1973):
Other traffic checkpoints, known as “temporary checkpoints” are maintained on roads where traffic is less frequent. The placement of these sites will be governed by the same safety factors as involved in permanent site placement and are usually located where the terrain allows an element of surprise. Operations at these temporary checkpoints are set up at irregular intervals and intermittently so as to confuse the potential violater. Handbook at 9-3..
When the checkpoints, whether permanent or temporary, are in operation, an officer standing at the “point” in full dress uniform on the highway will view the decelerating oncoming vehicles and their passengers, and will visually determine whether he has reason to believe the occupants of the vehicle are aliens (i. e., “breaks the pattern” of usual traffic).
In actual operation the checkpoints, be they “permanent” or “temporary,” have the same basic accouterments. Typically, about one-half mile to one mile south of the checkpoint is the first notification that the checkpoint is ahead. The notice is in the form of a black on yellow sign indicated “STOP AHEAD” which has floodr lights for nighttime illumination, Handbook at 9-9. Next, about 200 yards from the checkpoint is another sign cautioning. the traffic to slow down or to be careful; this sign usually has flashing yellow lights attached. For the 50 yards directly south of the checkpoint there are placed traffic cones evenly spaced along each side of the highway. The actual checkpoint has a sign indicating to the traffic to stop, with official Border Patrol vehicles parked on each side of stop zone showing the official Border Patrol emblem and/or the designation U. S. OF*594FICERS. At this point the agents assigned to the “point,” in their official uniform, conduct checking and inspection operations. Beyond the checkpoint is usually a sign indicating “THANK YOU.”
I agree with Justice Powell that the Almeida-Sanchez roving patrol search case does not “involve the constitutional propriety of searches at permanent or temporary checkpoints.” Almeida-San-chez v. United States, 413 U.S. 266, 276, 93 S.Ct. 2535, 2541, 37 L.Ed.2d 596 (1973) (emphasis added). A search at a temporary checkpoint is significantly different from one evolving from a roving patrol and is similar to a search at a permanent checkpoint.
Had this been a search at a temporary checkpoint, my vote would be different as I believe the retroactivity issue would be governed by United States v. Bowen, 500 F.2d 960 (9th Cir. 1974) (en banc).