State v. Slockbower

The opinion of the court was delivered by

*4Conford, P. J. A. D.

(temporarily assigned). This appeal presents the question whether under the federal1 and State2 constitutional provisions concerning search and seizure the police may routinely impound a motor vehicle and in the course thereof inventory its contents on the occasion of the arrest of its driver for a motor vehicle offense. We hold such action by the police to he an unconstitutional invasion of the driver’s zone of privacy unless the driver either consents or is given a reasonable opportunity to make other arrangements for the custody…