People v. Walker

OPINION OF THE COURT

Smith, J.

Having decided to arrest defendant for driving with a revoked license, a police officer also decided to impound the car he was driving. The officer did not inquire whether defendant’s passenger, who was not the registered owner of the car, was licensed and authorized to drive it. We hold that such an inquiry was not constitutionally required. We also hold that the officer’s search of the car after he decided to impound it was a valid inventory search.

I

Defendant was indicted for criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree. At a suppression hearing, a state…