United States v. Fishel

467 F.3d 855, 2006 U.S. App. LEXIS 25345, 2006 WL 2882790

• Court: Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
• Decided: October 10, 2006
• Docket: 05-30547
• Status: Published

Opinion

REAVLEY, Circuit Judge:

Michael Fishel pleaded guilty to possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute pursuant to a plea agreement that retained the right to appeal the denial of his motion to suppress. Fisher appeals and renews his argument that his detention beyond the completion of the officer’s investigation resulting from the initial traffic stop for illegal lane usage was unreasonable. We affirm.

I.

While working on Interstate 20 in Oua-chita Parish, Louisiana, Officer James Pur-vis observed a vehicle weaving between lanes, its occupant talking on a cell phone and driving 20 miles per hour under the speed limit. Purvis activated his emergency lights, stopped the vehicle, and informed the driver, Michael Fishel, of the reason for the stop. Fishel gave Purvis his driver license, but appeared extremely nervous with a tremor in his voice. Purvis asked Fishel to exit the vehicle and stand at the rear of the vehicle. Fishel complied, and Purvis informed Fishel that he would issue Fishel a citation for improper lane usage. Purvis inquired as to Fishel’s destination and ownership of the vehicle, and Fishel told Purvis that he owned the vehicle, that he had been visiting his brother in Austin, Texas, and that he was on his way home to Indiana. Purvis remarked that Fishel’s route didn’t seem a very direct way to get back to Indiana. Fishel responded that he planned first to stop in Tunica, Mississippi to pick up a destitute friend. When Purvis ran a computer check of Fishel’s license, he discovered that the license was expired.

When Purvis asked Fishel if he could search the vehicle, Fishel’s legs seemed to fail and he had to brace himself against his vehicle. He then changed his story of ownership and said that he could not give consent to search the vehicle because it did not belong to him. The officer then radioed for the K-9 unit and, within a few minutes, the dog arrived and alerted to indicate the presence of drugs. A search of the vehicle located the methamphetamine.

II.

The controlling authority here is given in this court’s en banc opinion in United States v. Brigham, 382 F.3d 500 (5th Cir.2004), where we emphasized the importance of the reasonableness of the peace officer’s conduct in “the scope of questioning, investigative techniques, or length of permissible detention that may be undertaken following a valid traffic stop.” Id. at 512. The court ruled: “A traffic detention may last as long as is reasonably necessary to effectuate the purpose of the stop, including the resolution of reasonable suspicion, supported by articu-lable facts within the officer’s professional judgment, that emerges during the stop.” Id.

There is no question that the officer may examine the driver’s license and vehicle registration during a traffic stop and run a computer check on both. Id. at 507-08. He may also ask about the purpose and itinerary of the driver’s trip. Id. at 508.

Officer Purvis’ actions were eminently reasonable under the circumstance of Fishel’s conduct and statements, as well as his driving with an expired license — an offense for which Purvis had probable cause to arrest. State v. Randall, 718 So.2d 590, 592 (La.App. 4 Cir.1998).

AFFIRMED.