People v. Krezen

The issue in this case is whether an inventory search of an automobile violated the Fourth Amendment prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures when the search was not incident to the defendant’s arrest, the automobile was lawfully and safely parked, and the officers did not seek alternative arrangements for the car’s disposition or obtain the defendant’s consent to the impoundment. We find the threshold decision to impound under these facts was an abuse of discretion.

On September 11, 1982, defendant drove her car to the Kent County Airport, parked and locked it in the air freight…