Mozzetti v. Superior Court

Opinion

MOSK, J.

When authorized by statute to remove from the highway and store a vehicle until the owner subsequently reclaims it, police officers routinely compile a complete inventory of the contents of the vehicle prior to storage, Petitioner, charged with possession of marijuana, seeks a writ of mandate to compel the respondent superior court to suppress evidence, seized when police inventoried the contents of her automobile. We *702consider whether this common police practice constitutes an unreasonable search and seizure in violation of the Fourth Amendment.

On August 28, 1970, petitioner,…