Court Opinion

ID: 9481444
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-05 08:19:05.544519+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:48:19.167439
License: Public Domain

HILL, Senior Circuit Judge,
specially concurring:
Contrary to my Brother Hatchett, I concur specifically approving of the language in the opinion, “the ability of the vehicle to become mobile is sufficient to satisfy the exigency requirement.” This panel is bound by controlling precedent. Bonner v. City of Prichard, 661 F.2d 1206, 1209 (11th Cir.1981) (en banc); Brown v. A.J. Gerrard Mfg. Co., 695 F.2d 1290, 1293 (11th Cir.) (opinion for the panel by Hatchett, J., recognizing that although the panel believed a former Fifth Circuit panel decision to be incorrectly decided, Bonner bound the panel to follow that decision), on reconsideration, 715 F.2d 1549 (11th Cir.1983) (en banc). As Judge Dubina observes, Nixon holds, “Put differently, the mobility of an automobile is exigency enough.” United States v. Nixon, 918 F.2d 895, 903 (11th Cir.1990). “[T]he requirement of exigent circumstances is satisfied by the ‘ready mobility’ inherent in all automobiles that reasonably appear to be capable of functioning.” Id.
It is important that law enforcement officers have some guidance more than the apprehension that we shall review their actions on a “case-by-case basis.” The automobile exception is clearly stated by this panel’s opinion and by Nixon.