Merely being a driver of a car does not give standing; defendant still has to prove it

Defendant’s mere possession of a vehicle did not give him standing because he could show no legitimate connection to the car. United States v. Lopez-Gutierrez, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 86319 (D. Utah November 21, 2006):

Moreover, Defendant has failed to produce evidence to counter the Government’s evidence that Defendant did not, in fact, know the owner of the vehicle, and therefore, could not legitimately be in possession of it. Although the Court believes that the difference in locations of the purported cousin and the state of registration is insignificant, that Defendant had to look at the registration to ascertain the name of the owner, and did not know the last name of his purported cousin, are significant. Such facts indicate that Defendant did not know the owner of the vehicle, and was not lawfully in possession of the vehicle.

Officers had probable cause to detain defendant based on a video that showed a hand-to-hand sale. United States v. Davis, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 86397 (N.D. Ind. November 20, 2006).*

Traffic stop was valid, and license produced was suspended. Officer noticed baggie of marijuana while defendant was looking for papers for car. Search incident or automobile exception supported the search. United States v. Hill, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 86320 (W.D. Ky. October 6, 2006).*

IAC claim fails because petitioner failed to show that any search claim would win. Talley v. United States, 2006 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 86401 (E.D. Tenn. November 27, 2006).*

2000 blood draw in a rape case was valid and it mooted defendant’s argument that the 1998 blood draw was invalid because of inevitable discovery. State v. Gregory, 2006 Wash. LEXIS 890 (November 30, 2006).

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