People v. Robles

124 Misc. 2d 419, 477 N.Y.S.2d 567, 1984 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3216
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedMay 25, 1984
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 124 Misc. 2d 419 (People v. Robles) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
People v. Robles, 124 Misc. 2d 419, 477 N.Y.S.2d 567, 1984 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3216 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1984).

Opinion

OPINION OF THE COURT

Julius Vinik, J.

The central issue in this case: Is a dealer in used cars or an operator of a body repair shop engaged in a “pervasively regulated” business authorizing a warrantless (administrative) search by the police?

Defendant moves to suppress (a) his statements to Police Officer Richard Arroyo, and (b) the physical evidence seized without a warrant from his business premises on March 23,1983 and the physical evidence seized on March 25, 1983 pursuant to a search warrant issued that day.

[420]*420The court conducted a combined Huntley-Mapp hearing at which Police Officer Richard Arroyo, Janet Santos, Joseph Robles and Norman Turk testified.

From all of the credible testimony, the court makes the following findings of fact:

For the past 20 years defendant Joseph Robles, conducts a used car business and body repair shop as “Knights Collision and Auto Sales” at 120 Union Avenue, Brooklyn, New York. Defendant also participates in the New York City Rotation Tow Program.

Sometime in January, 1983, the New York City Police Department Auto Crimes Division received information from the Department of Motor Vehicles that “Knights” Auto Sales may have been involved in the sale of a vehicle with a possible altered vehicle identification number (VIN).

On March 23, 1983 (two months later) Police Officer Arroyo together with four other officers of the New York City Police Department Auto Crimes Division went to defendant’s premises. They entered through a glass doorway from the street into an office and identified themselves to Janet Santos, a secretary, and told her they were there for inspection. When they asked for “the boss” and requested books and records, she told them that she didn’t know where the books are located, “Mr. Robles handled that”. One officer remained with Miss Santos while the other four officers entered through a closed door into a foyer, and therefrom through a second and third closed door into the rear shop area. The rear shop area was accessible only through these closed doors, and were not open to public view. They inspected the shop area and observed a rack containing a 1978 Chrysler transmission VIN No. 8P144231 and 10 additional transmissions with VIN numbers removed.

Shortly thereafter defendant Robles appeared and was told by Janet that police officers were in the shop area. Upon entering the shop he asked the officers if they had a warrant and immediately told them that he wished to call his attorney. Two officers accompanied defendant from the shop area to his office located directly under the secretary’s office. Defendant spoke to his attorney and was told by the [421]*421attorney to give his name and address only. The attorney also spoke to the officers by phone and advised them to leave unless they had a search warrant. He instructed the officers not to question defendant except for pedigree. Returning to the shop area, the officers asked defendant why the transmissions were in the shop. He responded that they were for sale. To the further question, ‘where did they come from?”, defendant responded, “a lot of people come to sell us parts.” Defendant was arrested and the items seized.

On March 25, 1983, Police Officer Arroyo applied for a search warrant. His affidavit in support thereof recounted the incident of March 23,1983, involving the 11 transmissions which were seized and alleged further that (after checking with the National Auto Theft Bureau) the 1978 Chrysler transmission YIN No. 8P144231 was reported stolen on September 9, 1982 and wanted. The affidavit further stated that “Knights” is a licensed new and used car retailer dealer, a licensed secondhand dealer, licensed as a medallion tow and participates in the Rotation Tow Program of the New York City Police Department. The search warrant was issued and pursuant thereto a search of defendant’s premises was conducted on March 25, 1983 and various other transmissions, seats and auto doors were seized.

THE HUNTLEY ISSUE:

The right to counsel guaranteed by section 6 of article I of the New York State Constitution has been extended beyond those of the Fifth and Sixth Amendments. The Court of Appeals (People v Arthur, 22 NY2d 325, 329) made explicit New York’s constitutional guarantees of due process, the privilege against self incrimination and the right to counsel as follows: “Once an attorney enters the proceeding, the police may not question the defendant in the absence of counsel unless there is an affirmative waiver, in the presence of the attorney”.

The questioning of this defendant after counsel has entered and spoken to the police, and in the face of his (counsel’s) instruction not to question the defendant except as to pedigree, renders the defendant’s statements violative of his constitutional rights and is suppressed. (People v [422]*422Skinner, 52 NY2d 24.) The court further finds that the answers were given as a result of interrogation, and not spontaneous or pedigree.

THE MAPP ISSUE:

Was the warrantless search and seizure of property from defendant’s business premises on March 23, 1983 in violation of defendant’s rights under the Fourth Amendment?

The People concede that the warrantless search of defendant’s garage by reason of defendant’s participation in the New York City Police Department Rotation Tow Program was impermissible (People v Velez, 109 Misc 2d 853).

However, the People argue that since defendant is in the business of used car sales and auto repair shop, the police officers had the right to enter his business premises pursuant to the provisions of section 436 of the New York City Charter, and section B32-132.0 of the Administrative Code of the City of New York for the purpose of examining records of purchases and sales. That these statutes have been held to be within well-established exceptions to the warrant requirements, since dealers in used goods and junkyards are engaged in pervasively regulated industries. In support of this position the People cite the following cases which permitted warrantless inspections and searches in certain designated industries (People v Ruggieri, 85 Misc 2d 141, junkyard; People v Tinneny, 99 Misc 2d 962, auto salvage; People v Pace, 111 Misc 2d 488, revd on other grounds 101 AD2d 336, auto wrecking and salvage; People v Garcia, 111 Misc 2d 550, dismantled).

The People also argue that secondhand auto dealers are engaged in a pervasively regulated business because the auto industry has been extensively regulated since 1901, requiring registration of vehicles, manufacturers, dealers, repairmen and others.

Additionally, the People contend that the recent amendment to section 415-a of the Vehicle and Traffic Law authorized the police to carry out warrantless inspections of businesses of the type defendant conducted in order to curb thefts of automobiles and to decrease costs to insurance companies and the public (NY Legis Ann, 1979, pp 416-417).

[423]*423CONCLUSIONS OF LAW

Unlike searches of private homes, which generally must be conducted pursuant to a warrant in order to be reasonable under the Fourth Amendment, legislative schemes authorizing warrantless searches of commercial property do not necessarily violate that amendment.

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Related

People v. Sullivan
129 Misc. 2d 747 (New York Supreme Court, 1985)

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Bluebook (online)
124 Misc. 2d 419, 477 N.Y.S.2d 567, 1984 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 3216, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/people-v-robles-nysupct-1984.