by Attorney Eric D. PuryearOn December 11, 2015, the Iowa Supreme Court released its ruling in IN THE MATTER OF PROPERTY SEIZED FROM ROBERT PARDEE, No. 14–0029, which limits the ability of police to engage in warantless vehicle searches.
In the Pardee case, an Iowa Highway Patrol trooper was found to have violated a Defendant’s 4th amendment rights by improperly prolonging a traffic stop. That in turn led to the seizure of tens of thousands of dollars and criminals charges. The criminal case was resolved through an acquittal, although the state proceeded with a seizure action relating to the money. The Iowa Supreme Court’s ruling reverses the seizure case ruling.
The full Pardee opinion can be seen here.