Legal Question in Traffic Law in Virginia

One night Terry borrowed a friend's car so that Terry and a friend, Kim, could get to their jobs at the hotel where they worked as servers in the cocktail lounge. In order to be able to stay awake and alert on their shift at the restaurant, they took some amphetamine tablets that they got from their roommates, who are students at the local law school. While Terry and Kim were driving toward the restaurant, for no apparent reason, a police officer stopped the pair. The officer explained that the license plate was not plainly visible as the officer drove behind them. Once they stopped, the officer could see the license plate, and the proper registration stickers were evident. The officer seemed to have a particular interest in Terry, the driver. The officer decided to search the interior of the car. The officer found the bottle of amphetamine pills in the glove box of the car near where Kim had been sitting. Terry and Kim explained that the car did not belong to them and that Terry had borrowed it from a friend. The officer called for a K9 certified in detecting the odors of illegal drugs. The K9 located a small used marijuana pipe under the driver�s seat. Terry claimed ignorance of the pipe. After their respective arrests, the officer found recreational amounts of marijuana in Terry�s and Kim�s pockets. Terry and Kim are hopeful that all the evidence of drug possession can be excluded from admission in evidence due to a Fourth Amendment violation.

Can either Terry or Kim, or both, successfully suppress the evidence of amphetamine possession from their upcoming trials? Can they suppress the evidence of marijuana possession? Can they suppress the evidence of marijuana pipe? Are both defendants in the same legal position?


Asked on 9/20/10, 12:03 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Sounds like a question from a law school exam. Suggest the writer hit

the research materials related to 4th Amendment search and seizure issues

applicable to his or her particular federal circuit in order to come up with

some credible answers.

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Answered on 9/25/10, 1:58 pm
sheryl shane sheryl shane, attorney at law

There are always good arguments in court. I agree with prior attorney and would like to add....go to law school, take an exam, and get some experience ....you may get your answer.

It will only take seven years plus most likely. Sheryl Shane, Attorney at Law. Web: www.sherylshanelaw.com.

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Answered on 9/26/10, 9:44 am


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