State v. Finn

The defendant, Forrest Finn, was convicted in Superior Court (Fitzgerald, J.) of possession of a controlled drug, see RSA 318-B:2, I (1995), and possession of a hypodermic needle, see RSA 318:52-e (1995). On appeal, he argues that the trial court erred in denying his motion to suppress evidence seized pursuant to an unlawful search of his motor vehicle. We reverse and remand.

*60The following facts are not disputed. On March 27, 1998, in the early morning, an Enfield police officer stopped the defendant on Interstate 89 for having a broken taillight. A license status check revealed that the…