Cengage Advantage Books: Business Law 9th Edition by Arnold Goldman ,William Sigismond

Exercise 17

Two police officers were patrolling an area where drug trafficking had been reported. They spotted an automobile driven by Johnson circling in the area and observed that the car had a broken taillight. The officers pulled the vehicle over and advised Johnson that he was being stopped for the broken taillight, which violated a state statute. The officer then discovered that Johnson was driving with a suspended driver's license. He was placed under arrest and given a pat-down search. This search revealed crack cocaine in the defendant's pocket; a search of the trunk revealed that marijuana was present. Johnson asked the court for a motion to suppress the evidence on the grounds that the police officers had no right to stop and search his vehicle for a broken taillight. Was Johnson correct? (United States v. Johnson, 324 F. 2d 263)