In April 2026, the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts finally vacated a drug conviction that was based on a traffic stop with an “unreasonable” 24-hour delay. Although this traffic stop clearly violated the defendant’s 4th and 14th Amendment Rights, his motion to suppress was denied by the trial judge. If you believe that your constitutional rights were violated by police officers during your traffic stop, consider contacting an experienced criminal defense attorney in Boston.
The Case
This case stems from a fairly straightforward “drug bust” in 2019. As an undercover police officer observed the defendant from an unmarked vehicle, they noticed the defendant committing a traffic offense. 24 hours later, the authorities used this traffic offense as an excuse to carry out a traffic stop, discovering cocaine in the process.
The defendant then faced charges of trafficking cocaine over 200 grams. He quickly argued that his 4th and 14th Amendment rights had been violated by the arresting officers, pointing out that an unreasonable amount of time had passed between his traffic violation and the traffic stop. However, the judge denied his motion to suppress the evidence from the search.
In explaining his logic, the judge contended that there were not enough past cases demonstrating the legality of traffic stops after 24-hour delays. Regardless, the court was forced to declare a mistrial after a troubling email from a juror. In this email, the juror claimed that he had not voted to convict the defendant. In other words, the seemingly unanimous verdict was not actually unanimous.
After a retrial, the defendant was convicted on a lesser cocaine charge. This led to the appeal that the Supreme Judicial Court heard.
Why a 24-Hour Delay for a Traffic Stop Violates the 4th and 14th Amendments
The Fourth Amendment protects citizens against unreasonable searches and seizures, while the 14th Amendment guarantees all citizens due process. While hearing this appeal, the Supreme Judicial Court decided to focus on the 14th Amendment while assuming that its conclusions would also apply to the Fourth Amendment.
When considering this case, the court pointed out that traffic stops should only last as long as absolutely necessary, since it doesn’t make sense to needlessly prolong this intrusion into private lives. The court also pointed out that an officer’s authority to stop a driver ends when the underlying traffic infraction is complete. While “some” delay might be reasonable, the court concluded that a 24-hour delay was not.
Can a Boston Drug Defense Attorney Help Me?
This case highlights troubling issues at the trial court level, as one might argue that the trial judge should have never denied the defendant’s motion to suppress. At the very least, the Supreme Judicial Court shows that constitutional violations eventually receive the attention they deserve. If you are experiencing similar constitutional violations, consider contacting an experienced drug defense attorney in Boston. Edward R. Molari, Attorney at Law defends those charged with cocaine possession in Massachusetts.