When Is a Traffic Stop by Police a Detention for a DUI?

Evidence gained during a DUI investigation is inadmissible if it is the product of an illegal detention. If, however, the suspect consents to talking to the police or performing field sobriety tests, the police officer does not need to justify his encounter with the suspect.

If the suspect contests his being stopped, the focus shifts to the totality of the circumstances and whether the officer can provide “some objective manifestation that the suspect may be involved in criminal activity.” People v. Souza (1994) 9 Cal. 4th 224, 231; United States v. Cortez (1981) 449 U.S. 411, 417-418.

Brief Synopsis: A traffic stop for DUI becomes a detention when “by means of physical force or show of authority,” a police officer has “in some way restrained the liberty of a citizen . . . [such that] if in view of all of the circumstances surrounding the incident, a reasonable person would have believed that he was not free to leave.” or “otherwise terminate the encounter.”

In the case of Shauntel Ray Brown, San Diego County Deputy Sheriff Geasland pulled up behind a parked car with Mr. Brown sitting in the driver’s seat. As Geasland pulled behind him, he activated his overhead emergency lights.

Geasland was in the area because an emergency call came into 911 reporting a fight in an alley. The caller said that she could hear someone say “the gun was loaded.” The caller said the people were fighting and that she could hear screaming. More than four people were allegedly involved.

California Supreme Court San Francisco
Geasland then went down the alley and saw no one. He decided to circle the block to check out the front of the houses who had their back to the alley. He then came upon Brown, parked along the street. Geasland suspected Brown was involved due to his silence in response to the question about the fight.

Brown was sitting in his parked car. Geasland thought Brown also might have been injured, so he pulled behind Brown and activated his overhead lights.

Brown identified himself, produced his driver’s license and talked to the officer. Geasland noticed that Brown was mumbling and had bloodshot eyes. Geasland claimed he also could smell alcohol. He asked if Brown had been involved in the fight and Brown said yes. He also asked Brown if he had been drinking and Brown also said yes. He was then given a breath test, registering a BAC over 0.15%.

Brown was then charged with felony DUI because he had three prior DUI convictions. Brown moved to suppress the evidence of his mumbling, bloodshot eyes and breath alcohol content, arguing that it was the fruit of an illegal detention. At the trial level, his motion was denied and Brown entered a no contest level to felony DUI. He was sentenced to two years in county jail.

Brown then appealed the ruling to the court of appeal and then to the California Supreme Court.

The California Supreme Court affirmed the court of appeal and the trial court, beginning its analysis by noting that an officer may approach someone in a public place and ask them questions. If the person voluntarily answers, the consensual responses and the officer’s observations are admissible in a criminal prosecution. Florida v. Bostick (1991) 501 U.S. 429, 434.

However, when an officer, “by means of physical force or show of authority, has in some way restrained the liberty of a citizen,“ the officer effects a seizure of the person, which must be justified under the Fourth Amendment. Terry v. Ohio (1968) 392 U.S. 1, 19, fn. .16. When a police officer shows authority (not physical force), a person is seized “if in view of all of the circumstances surrounding the incident, a reasonable person would have believed that he was not free to leave.” or “otherwise terminate the encounter.” Brendlin v. California (2007) 551 U.S. 249, 254-55. It is then a seizure if the person submits to the show of authority. Id.

Turning to the Brown case, the court found that Geasland’s show of authority was using his overhead lights and pulling behind Brown. A reasonable person would believe he or she was not free to leave, said the court. Brown then submitted to the authority by staying parked and then talking to Geasland.
For more information about traffic stops, click on the following articles:

1. U.S. Supreme Court Rules Dog Sniff of Car Improper After Officer Makes Routine Traffic Stop for Driving on the Shoulder of the Road
2. Good Faith Exception to Officer’s Execution of an Improper Search Warrant Does Not Have Similar Application to an Improper Traffic Stop.
3. Can An Anonymous Cell Phone Call to Police Support a Traffic Stop for DUI?

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