State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Respondent v. Joseph Vincent Slockbower, Defendant-Appellant

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey held that police may not impound and inventory a vehicle arrested for a traffic offense without the driver’s consent or a reasonable opportunity to arrange custody, deeming the impoundment in this case an unconstitutional invasion of privacy; consequently the search was invalid and the evidence suppressed, and the Appellate Division’s decision was reversed. Justice Schreiber and Justice Pashman each filed concurring opinions, the former criticizing the majority’s sweeping rule and the latter emphasizing the lack of substantial police need.