State v. Balabon

Defendant appeals a judgment of conviction for delivery and possession of methamphetamine, assigning error to the trial court's denial of her motion to suppress evidence that police officers obtained from an inventory of her impounded vehicle. Defendant argues that the officers unlawfully impounded her vehicle under ORS 809.720, because they did not have probable cause to believe that she was driving without insurance and, therefore, the resulting inventory search was invalid. We agree, and, accordingly, reverse.

On review, we are bound by the trial court's factual findings if there is…