State v. Richardson

SULLIVAN, Justice.

Defendant Robert Richardson was stopped for driving his pickup truck without wearing a seatbelt. The police offi-eer's subsequent inquiry regarding a "large, unusual bulge" in his pocket led to the discovery of cocaine. The trial court concluded that this inquiry went beyond that authorized by Indiana's Seatbelt Enforcement Act. We agree with the trial court's determination.

Background

On July 10, 2007, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Officer Tanya Eastwood was working an overtime shift when she drove past a pickup truck stopped at a stop sign and noticed that the driver,…