State v. Ferguson

Pursuant to Article I, section 9 of the Oregon Constitution, a police officer may lawfully extend a routine traffic stop if he, given the totality of the circumstances, has a reasonable suspicion of further criminal activity and if his subsequent investigations are reasonably connected to that criminal activity.

Defendant appealed her conviction for unlawful possession of methamphetamine. Defendant was driving a van without license plates and was stopped by an officer. During the course of the traffic stop, quantities of methamphetamine were discovered in the van. The state charged her with unlawful possession of methamphetamine. During trial, the state introduced evidence procured during the search of the van and defendant objected, claiming that the search was conducted in violation of her constitutional rights against unreasonable search and seizure. The trial court denied her motion to suppress the evidence and she was convicted. The Court affirmed, holding that a police officer may appropriately investigate other crimes if, during the course of a routine traffic stop, he develops a reasonable suspicion of those crimes. Affirmed.