STATE V. JASON LEWIS and JEROME LEWIS
A-2066-08T4 02-08-10
Where police stopped vehicle at night in a neighborhood
known for drug sales based on evidence providing probable cause
to believe vehicle contained drugs, persons other than the
occupants who also had reason to believe the vehicle contained
drugs may have had access to the vehicle, and there was a
substantial question whether other police officers would have
been available to detain the occupants while an application was
made for a warrant, the State established the exigent
circumstances required to justify a search of the vehicle under
the automobile exception to the warrant requirement. Moreover,
the validity of the search was not affected by the fact that
drugs were found in a closed leather case because, when the
automobile exception applies, the police may search every part
of the vehicle and its contents that may conceal the object of
the search.
