State v. Lee

Writ granted; relief denied. "As a general matter, the decision to stop an automobile is reasonable where the police have probable cause to believe that a traffic violation has occurred." Whren v. United States , 517 U.S. 806, 810, 116 S.Ct. 1769, 1772, 135 L.Ed.2d 89 (1996). Here, the officer had probable cause to believe that defendant violated La.R.S. 32:53(A)(3) in effect at the time of the traffic stop, which provided, "Every permanent registration license plate shall at all times be securely fastened to the vehicle to which it is assigned, so as to prevent the plate from swinging, and…