DUI Arrests and Inventory Searches

In Kilburn vs. State, the 1st District Court of Appeal was presented with 2 distinct issues. The Defendant filed two separate motions to suppress. The 1st motion to suppress was filed alleging that the officer didn't have reasonable suspicion to stop the automobile. The 2nd motion to suppress was filed alleging that, after the defendant was arrested for DUI, the drugs found in his automobile should be suppressed because the inventory search wasn't conducted in accordance with standardized criteria.

Regarding the 1st motion to suppress, the trial court found that the deputy observed defendant's pick-up truck weaving and crossing lanes over a distance of approximately 2 1/2 miles. The deputy suspected that this was a DUI case. After activating his emergency lights, defendant did not stop right away. When defendant did stop, he almost hit a garbage can. Defendant was then arrested for felony DUI due to the fact that this was defendant's fourth DUI. The trial court denied this motion to suppress and the appellate court affirmed finding that defendant's argument had no merit.

After arresting defendant for DUI, the deputy made the decision to have defendant's truck towed since it was in an unsafe location. As a part of the impoundment process, the deputy carried out an inventory search of the truck pursuant to Sheriff's Office policy. In the course of the inventory search, the deputy found marijuana, alprazolam and hydrocodone.

The basis for the 2nd motion to suppress was that the Sheriff's Office had no standardized criteria or procedures for conducting an inventory search. The trial court denied the motion to suppress. The appellate court reversed the trial court's decision. The appellate court held that in order for the inventory search exception to the warrant requirement to apply, the inventory search has to be performed in accordance with standardized criteria. The stated purpose is "to limit police discretion in determining the scope of the search and ensures that the police will not abuse the exception and use the inventory search as a subterfuge for a criminal investigatory search."

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