The People of the State of New York v. Daniel J. Sullivan

Summary

The New York Court of Appeals held that a police inventory of a lawfully impounded vehicle, undertaken for the purpose of protecting property and traffic flow, does not constitute an unreasonable search under the Fourth Amendment; therefore the gun discovered was admissible and the indictment was reinstated. Chief Judge Fuld dissented, arguing the inventory was an unlawful search and the evidence should be suppressed.