City of Blue Ash v. Kavanagh

I. Introduction

{¶ 1} Today this court must determine whether discretionary impoundment of a vehicle during a legitimate traffic stop constitutes an unreasonable seizure under the Fourth Amendment. For the reasons that follow, we find that the impoundment was justified and that the detention of the driver and subsequent search of the vehicle were lawful, and we therefore reverse the judgment of the court of appeals.

II. Facts

{¶ 2} On January 15, 2004, Blue Ash Police Officer Robert Rockel pulled over defendant-appellee, William Kavanagh, on Interstate 71 for driving with expired license plates.…