NC Supreme Court rules in favor of Paul's client, finds police officer violated Fourth Amendment in traffic stop

Last Friday, the North Carolina Supreme Court issued a decision in favor of Patterson Harkavy attorney Paul Smith’s client.

In State v. Reed, the Court held that the trial court erred in denying a motion to suppress evidence uncovered in a traffic stop. The Court held that although the stop was constitutional at its inception based on the vehicle exceeding the speed limit, a law enforcement officer impermissibly prolonged the stop when he continued to hold the driver in his patrol car after issuing him a citation. The Court ordered that all evidence obtained as a result of the unlawful detention be suppressed.