United States v. Bobby Joe Wilson

KRAYITCH, Circuit Judge:

Once more this court must decide whether evidence should have been suppressed as the fruit of a pretextual “seizure” of a person for violation of a traffic offense. 1 We conclude that the arrest of appellant did not violate the fourth amendment and that the district court did not err in denying appellant’s suppression motion.

I

As the facts are largely undisputed, we accept them as recited in the magistrate’s report and recommendation. On the morning of March 1, 1987, Georgia State Patrol Trooper Michael Ralston was driving his cruiser south on Interstate 75 in Gordon…