Posted On: July 28, 2011
CALIFORNIA EVIDENCE: DOG SNIFF AND JUSTIFICATION FOR SEARCHING
During a traffic stop, the police had a "narcotics detection dog" sniff the exterior of the defendant's pickup truck. The dog alerted to a backpack, leading to a search, leading to lots of evidence. First, the California Court of Appeal says that a dog sniff of an exterior of a vehicle is NOT a search at all. The Court of Appeal says that the dog was well trained, and that alone established reasonable cause to search the backpack.
People v. Stillwell; 2011 DJ DAR 11132; DJ, 7/26/11; C/A 3rd
