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Articles Posted in Search And Seizure

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Dunlap and Chatton: Compare Apples to Apples

The Ohio Supreme Court recently decided a case in which an officer conducted a traffic stop after learning the basis for the stop was no longer valid.  The issue was whether evidence obtained from the stop was admissible in the defendant’s trial.  This issue was addressed by this court in…

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Inventory Searches and DUI/OVI in Ohio

Following a DUI arrest (called ‘OVI’ in Ohio), it is common for an officer to search the suspect’s vehicle before having the vehicle towed.  This ‘inventory search’ is an exception to the general requirement of a search warrant.  For an inventory search to be valid, it must be done in…

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Nate Hobbs’ Case and Detentions for DUI / OVI investigations

Although it is starting to look like it, this is not a blog about NFL players charged with DUI (called ‘OVI’ in Ohio).  Recent articles discussed the cases of Henry Ruggs III and Geno Smith because those cases illustrated legal concepts related to DUI/OVI. The last article, about Geno Smith’s…

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What If An Officer Asks To Search Your Car During a Traffic Stop?

In my experience as a criminal defense attorney, I have seen countless cases which began as simple traffic stops but escalated quickly into something far more complicated. Those more complicated cases often result from the officer searching my client’s vehicle and finding something illegal. Frequently, the officer’s search is based…

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Ohio Supreme Court To Decide Legality Of Stops Based On Anonymous Tips

If another driver becomes angry with you, that driver can easily call the police and report you as a drunk driver. The driver doesn’t have to give a statement to the police. In fact, the allegation can be completely anonymous. Should police officers be permitted to stop you based only…

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Can You Be Pulled Over In Ohio For Someone Else’s Crime?

Imagine for a minute that your car is in the shop. You have some errands to run, so you borrow someone else’s car. A friend, a family member, a coworker, whomever. As you’re driving to the store, you see a police cruiser activate its lights and sirens to pull you…

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Don’t Be A Target Of DUI / OVI Investigations

You may be more of a target than you think. When you think about people arrested for drunk driving, do you picture a car driving erratically all over the road? That’s a common misconception. Most stops resulting in DUI/OVI charges are for minor offenses: failing to signal, driving a little…

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High Court Hears Oral Argument In Third Case Involving Warrantless Blood Test

The United States Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in the case of Mitchell v. Wisconsin. As this blog discussed previously, this the third case in a series of cases dealing with whether the police can take a DUI/OVI suspect’s blood without a search warrant. The questions and statements from…

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Officer Obtains Urine Test Result From Nurse: DUI Dismissed

Brynn Campbell was involved in a head on-crash which killed the 83-year-old woman driving the other car. Campbell was taken to the hospital, and hospital staff performed a urine test. Although Campbell showed no obvious signs of impairment, a police officer went to the hospital and asked the nurse for…

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Search Of Purse Creates Controversial Court Case

Jamie was driving down the highway with her boyfriend when a police officer stopped Jamie for speeding. It turned out Jamie did not have a driver license, and there was an active warrant for her arrest. The officer put Jamie in the back of his cruiser and placed her under…

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