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Inventory Search Allows Search of Closed Containers In Trunk

By Jonathan Byrne

US v. Mathews: Mathews was pulled over after an officer noticed his obscured license plate. Before the car was stopped, the officer recognized Mathews and confirmed his believe that Mathews had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. The car was stopped and Mathews arrested. Also in the car was an unlicensed 17 year old and an infant, neither of which could drive the car away. Therefore, the officer impounded the car. As a result of the impound, he performed an inventory search that resulted in the discovery of drugs in some luggage in the trunk. Mathews unsuccessfully tried to suppress the evidence found in the trunk and then entered a conditional guilty plea.On appeal, the Fourth Circuit affirmed the district court's denial of Mathews's motion to suppress...continue to full post

Full post as published by Fourth Circuit Blog on January 11, 2010 (boomark / email).