State of New Jersey, Plaintiff-Respondent v. Barbara A. Hill, Defendant-Appellant

Summary

The Supreme Court of New Jersey reversed the Appellate Division and remanded the case, holding that the warrantless search of the defendant's unattended vehicle was not justified under the community caretaking exception and therefore the discovered narcotics must be suppressed. The Court reasoned that no impoundment or police custody of the vehicle existed, and the parking violation did not present an emergency. Justice O'Hern dissented, arguing that routine police procedures should qualify as a caretaking function and that the search was reasonable.