#Police road block full

This was a loud and clear signal from the court that roadblocks were OK as long as they were organized and systematic in their administration and implementation. However, the court volunteered that all the issues that made such random stops “unreasonable” under the Fourth Amendment could be remedied by setting up formal roadblocks. They must have at least reasonable suspicion to stop a vehicle and question the driver. The court re-affirmed that individual officers cannot randomly stop motorists, just because they don’t have anything better to do with their time. This is the case that pulls together the two themes that have merged in the dispute over when it is permissible to stop motorists without probable cause or reasonable suspicion. Martin appeal the denial of their joint motion to suppress evidence obtained after a search and seizure at an automobile checkpoint.įollowing their conditional pleas of guilty for possession with intent to distribute marijuana, defendants challenged the constitutionality of police procedures used to stop motorists exiting off a Tennessee highway upon warning that motorists are approaching a narcotics/DUI checkpoint.īecause we conclude that the procedures used by law enforcement officers were unconstitutional, we REVERSE the denial of the defendants’ motion to suppress. These themes will be repeated in subsequent cases as if they are supported by scientific findings, rather than the off-hand personal opinions of court justices, of which they are.ĭefendants-appellants Judith A.

And, supposedly motorist fear and surprise is minimal because this is an established roadblock with clear evidence of enforcement authority. It is a known and ongoing roadblock so travelers can avoid it if they want to. The court permits the use of roadblocks several miles inland from national borders under the following rationale: There aren’t feasible alternatives (in their opinion). This is a border-related case that incrementally increases law enforcement’s ability to avoid Fourth Amendment restrictions.

#Police road block full

To see the full text, just click the name of the case. For the federal cases, we have included summaries below. This is a collection of court cases that pertain to roadblocks at both the federal and state levels.