Washington Supreme Court
State v. Ladson
July 1, 1999979 P.2d 833
Summary
The Washington Supreme Court held that pretextual traffic stops violate article I, section 7, of the Washington Constitution because a traffic infraction cannot supply authority of law for a seizure whose true purpose is an unrelated criminal investigation. Because the officers intentionally used a minor traffic violation as a pretext to investigate the occupants, the initial stop was unlawful and all evidence discovered afterward had to be suppressed. The court reversed the Court of Appeals and reinstated the trial court's suppression order.