If a Texas police officer makes a traffic stop, he or she must have a legitimate reason to do so. During a traffic stop, an officer might ask a driver to step out of his or her vehicle or might request permission to search a person’s car, especially if he or she suspects a drug crime. A driver is not obligated to consent to such a request if the police officer in question does not have an authorized search warrant, although there are certain exceptions where a search without a warrant would be lawful.
Police say the man behind the wheel consented to a search
On a recent Friday, a police officer who had a K-9 unit with him made a traffic stop. The officer later said that he noticed that the young man behind the wheel was acting nervous when he approached the vehicle and that he did not have a driver’s license. The officer also stated that the man consented to his request to search the vehicle.
The search led to an arrest
The driver, age 25, wound up being taken into custody after the K-9 officer searched his car. Police say they found marijuana in the trunk of the vehicle. They also claim to have seized a large amount of methamphetamine.
An arrest is just the beginning of the adjudication process
Many people in Texas and elsewhere get arrested during traffic stops. However, that does not necessarily mean that every person arrested gets convicted of a drug crime. In fact, some cases never even go to trial, especially if a defendant has reason to challenge certain evidence as inadmissible or can prove that his or her rights were violated leading up to, during or following an arrest. In any case, it is helpful to request legal support because a criminal defense attorney can determine which type of strategy may be best to help mitigate a defendant’s circumstances.