Court Opinion

ID: 9535158
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-07 04:46:05.855182+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T13:33:10.867719
License: Public Domain

On Petition for Rehearing
POWELL, Judge.
Counsel for defendant vigorously contends that this court did not give due consideration to the cases of Branson v. State, Okl.Cr., 270 P.2d 362, and Ellsworth v. State, Okl.Cr., 295 P.2d 296, cited by defendant. It is argued:
“In support of the opinion that the cases involving subterfuge were not applicable, the court appears to take at face value the testimony of officer Bliss to the effect that the reasons *1030for following Edwards and stopping him was to arrest him for not having a driver’s license. Surely, this court is too familiar with this type of case to ‘buy’ this ridiculous version of what actually prompted the arrest and search. Under the record it is crystal clear that Bliss followed, stopped and searched Edwards’ car because he thought the car might contain whiskey.”
After referring to the Branson and Ells-worth cases, it is further argued:
“The subterfuge in the instant case is far more apparent. Bliss, a trained member of the raiding squad with some knowledge of the decisions of this Court, attempted to justify an illegal search by denying in his testimony that he stopped Edwards with no suspicion that Edwards had whiskey in the car. That is patently ridiculous, the shocking thing is that this Court would attach any credence to such testimony. It was made with ‘tongue in cheek’, as prosecutor, trial judge, and defense counsel well know, and which, most certainly, this Court should readily appreciate.”
In Branson v. State, supra, officers observed defendant driving by and followed him, as they said, for observation. Witness was asked, “Did you observe anything unusual about his manner of driving as you followed him? A. When he turned north into Earlsboro was the first thing I noticed about his driving. That is a four-lane highway there with a small island down the center, and he turned out into the center lane, which would be the wrong lane of traffic, so when he went north we followed him up town.” And as stated in that case: “The officers followed the defendant to a point on a little used dead end street in front of the Spencer home, at the end of the street. The officers followed him into the house and told him to come outside. They then took custody of the defendant on mere suspicion, and started a search.”
The arresting officer admitted that they did not arrest Branson for the claimed minor traffic violation. But witness said: "We placed him wider arrest and searched his car. We ivanted to look in his car and see what was in it.”
In Brinegar v. State, 97 Okl.Cr. 299, 262 P.2d 464, we had held that ordinarily a minor traffic violation would not support a search and seizure. We did say that the officers would, after arrest for a traffic violation, have the right to search the person of the accused and his immediate surroundings for firearms or other weapons for the protection of the arresting officers and to prevent escape. And there liquor being found in a place convenient for firearms, we held that the officers had the further right to search the turtle back of the car for further evidence to support the charge to be filed of illegal transportation. So that in the Branson case we said:
“Whether a search of or seizure from an automobile, parked on a public street, without a warrant, is or is not unreasonable within the meaning of the constitutional provision forbidding unreasonable searches and seizures, is a judicial question to be determined in each case in view of all the facts and circumstances under which the search or seizure is made.
“A search of an automobile without a search warrant and not as an incident of a lawful arrest, and not upon any probable cause of the commission of a felony, but upon a mere suspicion, is in violation of Bill of Rights, § 30, and evidence obtained by such a search is inadmissible. Const. Art. 2, § 30, Old. St.Ann.”
The principles set forth in the Branson case were reiterated in Ellsworth v. State, supra [295 P.2d 297], Quoting from the body of the opinion, we said:
“The defendant contends that the trial court erred in overruling his motion to suppress. Briefly, the facts disclose that the defendant was driving *1031along on Highway 66 outside of Vinita, Oklahoma, where the highway turns to the right from west to north. Instead of turning north, he continued straight ahead on a country road which continues west. The Highway Patrol car, driven by Patrolmen Ballard and Rogers, was proceeding south on Highway 66 before the same turns to the east.
It appears that at this point, they met the defendant as he went off the highway. They testified he gave no signal of his intention so to do, and they had to slow down to keep from hitting him. Under the rules of the road the defendant proceeding straight ahead was not required to give a signal. 47 O.S. 1951 § 121.5 (Duty to signal). They stated that he was driving 4CM-5 miles per hour, not an excessive speed, and they proceeded to follow him and placed him under arrest. Ordinarily, a minor traffic violation will not support a search and seizure. Brinegar v. State, 97 Okl.Cr. 299, 262 P.2d 464. The officers admitted there was no other traffic on the highway and they did not advise the defendant of the supposed violation but placed him in jail for investigation. The grounds relied on to support the arrest and subsequent search appear to be a mere subterfuge.”
The within case differs materially in the fact situation from the two cases above. Here, officer Bliss had personal knowledge that Edwards’ driver’s license had been cancelled, so that when Edwards commenced to drive the Ford automobile in the presence of Bliss, Bliss had a right to stop him and to demand to see his driver’s license, which Edwards did not have and reminded Bliss that Bliss already knew that he did not possess a driver’s license. The initial arrest for driving without a driver’s license followed. Bliss knew Edwards was a persistent law violator, and was therefore justified in searching him and his immediate presence for firearms and in the process found the liquor under the front seat of the car.
Counsel would have this court reject the interpretation placed by the trial court upon the evidence developed in the within case, and say that officer Bliss was giving false evidence, and in effect say that there was no basis in the evidence to support his claim that he stopped Edwards because he had personal knowledge that Edwards’ driver’s license had theretofore been cancelled. That is the interpretation the trial court would have been compelled to give the evidence of Bliss in order to have sustained the motion to suppress. He had the witness before him, and was in a better position to evaluate the evidence. He did not feel that the evidence justified him in interpreting it as counsel for the defendant suggests he should. We would not be justified in setting aside the action of the trial court. The rule is that where there is evidence to support the findings of the trial court, the Criminal Court of Appeals will not reverse the lower court upon its findings of fact. See Mitchell v. State, and Griffin v. State, cited in the opinion.
Counsel argues that this court by its decision has extended Section 366(4) of Title 47 O.S.A. to authorize any peace officer to stop a moving motor vehicle, instead of the “Commissioner and each officer and inspector of the Department as he shall designate and all members of the Division of Highway Patrol.”
Section 285 of the title provides in part: “Every licensee shall have his operator’s or chauffeur’s license in his immediate possession at all times when operating a motor vehicle and display the same, upon demand of a peace officer, or a field deputy or inspector of the Commissioner. * * * ” (Emphasis supplied.)
Here, officer Bliss knew that defendant had not long before been convicted of operating a motor vehicle without having a driver’s license. He certainly had a right, under such circumstances, to demand that defendant display his license; that is to say, he did the moment defendant commenced to operate a motor vehicle. The vehicle necessarily was in motion and had *1032to be stopped. Section 366(4) was cited to demonstrate that the Commissioner of Public Safety and specified officers could only stop a vehicle "upon reasonable belief that any vehicle is being operated in violation of any provision of this Act, or any other lazv regulating the operation of vehicles. * * * ” In other words, they could not just stop a car on any pretext, but only on the condition specified. Likewise, peace officers in general cannot stop a car on any pretext; say, on the ground that they believe that a driver does not have a driver’s license. The belief must have come about by reason of facts within the knowledge of such officer justifying the expressed belief. The demand authorized by Section 285 must result from justifiable facts within the knowledge of the demanding officer. Here, officer Bliss having been in court where defendant was convicted of driving without a driver’s license, certainly had without pretext or subterfuge grounds for a reasonable belief that presently defendant did not possess a driver’s license, which gave him the right, irrespective of Section 366(4) of the Title, to demand to see defendant’s license, and the right when his belief was confirmed by Edwards, to arrest him for driving without a driver’s license. The search that followed was, under the circumstances, incidental.
The petition for rehearing and further argument is denied, and the Clerk of this Court is directed to issue the mandate forthwith.
BRETT, P. J., concurs.