After reading the passage below, you must answer the questions that follow. Please make your answers as comprehensive as possible, and document
any sources that you use following APA format.
Chapter 4 Case Study: Red Sports Car
Officer Webster was patrolling downtown Sometown late Saturday night. Primarily, she was on the lookout for drunk drivers after the bars
closed, but violent incidents were on the rise in the area, so she was also looking for suspicious activity. She had just pulled over across
the street from the Sometown Pub when a red sports car went speeding by. Officer Webster turned on her siren and pursued the sports car. The
car pulled over, and Officer Webster approached the vehicle. When she got to the door, she noticed the driver shoving something under the front
seat. She rapped on the window, and the driver, visibly angry, rolled it down.
“What?” he said.
Officer Webster told him to step out of the vehicle. The driver slammed the door and stepped toward Officer Webster. She then ordered him to
turn around and place his hands on the roof of the vehicle. The man swore, but he complied. Officer Webster did a weapons pat-down and did not
find a weapon.
“OK, Sir, now I need to see some identification.” When the man handed over his license, she saw that his name was Herman Knoxville. Before
running his license, she shined her flashlight in the sports car. Sticking out from under the front seat, she saw a revolver. She seized it. In
addition, she also saw a small bag containing a white powdery substance next to the revolver. She seized that as well.
“You should see what’s in the trunk” Knoxville asked menacingly.
Officer Webster just placed Herman Knoxville under arrest.
Based on your chapter 4 reading, and the passage above, answer each of the following questions in paragraph form. Be sure to document any
sources you use when constructing your responses.
What are the grounds for a lawful vehicle search after a traffic stop? What Supreme Court decision governs this activity? Did Officer Webster’s
actions satisfy this requirement?
Did Officer Webster’s actions satisfy constitutional requirements? Why?
Why did Officer Webster not look in the trunk?
