State v. Kurokawa-Lasciak

In this case, we adhere to prior decisions of this court and decide that the “automobile exception” to the warrant requirement of Article I, section 9, of the Oregon Constitution, does not permit a warrantless search of a defendant’s vehicle when the vehicle is parked, immobile, and unoccupied at the time that the police encounter it in connection with a crime.

The state charged defendant with various drug offenses, and defendant filed a motion to suppress evidence that the police had obtained from a warrantless search of his rental van. The state contended that no warrant was required under…