State v. Hathman

The court of appeals determined that the opening of the closed containers (white plastic bag and its contents) found during the inventory search of appellee’s automobile violated the Fourth Amendment prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures and, therefore, the evidence seized during the inventory search could not be used by the state to prove the charges against appellee. We are persuaded by the well-reasoned opinion of the court of appeals and, for the reasons that follow, we affirm.

An inventory search of a lawfully impounded vehicle is a well-defined exception to the warrant…