State Of Iowa Vs. Donna Kay Louwrens

HECHT, Justice.

This case presents an issue of first impression in this state — whether evidence obtained after police stopped a vehicle based on a mistake of law must be suppressed as a violation of the Fourth Amendment. We conclude the district court correctly determined the evidence derived from a stop based on a law enforcement officer’s mistake of law must be suppressed.

I. Background Facts and Proceedings.

Shortly before 1:00 a.m. on May 25, 2008, local police officers observed a car make a U-turn on Central Avenue in Estherville. Knowing that an Estherville ordinance prohibits U-turns…