State v. Ruiz

The state appeals an order granting defendant’s motion to suppress evidence seized from a warrantless search of his automobile. The state contends that the seizure without a warrant was lawful under the state constitution because of the exigent circumstances of the automobile’s mobility or, alternatively, because the search was incident to defendant’s arrest. We agree that the search was reasonable under the state constitution because of exigent circumstances and reverse the order granting defendant’s motion to suppress.

Trooper Madsen stopped defendant’s vehicle because it was weaving for…