PEOPLE v KAZMIERCZAK
Docket No. 113452
Supreme Court of Michigan
February 10, 2000
461 Mich 411
Argued October 14, 1999 (Calendar No. 13).
In an opinion by Justice TAYLOR, joined by Chief Justice WEAVER, and Justices CORRIGAN, YOUNG, and MARKMAN, the Supreme Court held:
The smell of marijuana alone by a person qualified to know the odor may establish probable cause to search a motor vehicle, pursuant to the motor vehicle exception to the warrant requirement.
- Probable cause to issue a search warrant exists where there is a substantial basis for inferring a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place. In order to show that a search was in compliance with the
Fourth Amendment , the police must show either that they had a warrant or that their conduct fell within one of the narrow, specific exceptions to the warrant requirement. One well-established exception is the automobile or motor vehicle exception, premised on an automobile‘s ready mobility and pervasive regulation: the police may search a motor vehicle without the necessity of first obtaining a warrant if probable cause to support the search exists. - In People v Taylor, the claim that the smell of marijuana alone was sufficient to provide probable cause to conduct a search of a motor vehicle without a warrant was rejected. The majority indicated that the smell of marijuana was but one factor to consider in the totality of the circumstances. But Taylor was erroneously decided because it confused the concept of probable cause and how it may be shown with the concept of search warrant exceptions and when they exist. A two-step analysis is required. One
must first ask if probable cause to search existed. If that question is answered in the affirmative, one then must ask if a search warrant was obtained or if a search warrant exception applied. If both questions are answered in the affirmative, there is no basis to suppress evidence seized. - When a qualified person smells an odor sufficiently distinctive to identify contraband, the odor alone may provide probable cause to believe that contraband is present. The odor provides a substantial basis for inferring a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found. In this case, an officer testified that he had previous experience involving marijuana investigations and that he recognized a strong smell of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. The trial court found the officer‘s testimony to be credible. Under such circumstances, probable cause to search for marijuana existed, and, under the
Fourth Amendment , the police were permitted to search the vehicle without more, including closed containers in the vehicle that might conceal the object of the search. - Taylor must be overruled because it clearly misread and misapplied United States constitutional law as clearly articulated by the United States Supreme Court in its opinions concerning the motor vehicle exception to the search warrant requirements of the
Fourth Amendment . Further, no claim has been made either in Taylor or in this case that the Michigan Constitution has a higher standard than the United States Constitution in this regard, and thus the Taylor rationale is entirely without support.
Reversed and remanded.
Justice KELLY, joined by Justice CAVANAGH, concurring in part and dissenting in part, stated that the majority unnecessarily and inappropriately overrules People v Taylor to hold that the smell of marijuana by a qualified police officer may establish probable cause for a search of a motor vehicle without a warrant.
Taylor held that the odor of marijuana alone is insufficient to create probable cause to search a vehicle. In that case, the arresting police officer had little practical experience and no training in detecting the odor. In this case, the officer had extensive experience in the area. Hence, the finding of probable cause in this case is based on more than the odor of marijuana; it is based on the odor, coupled with the knowledge necessary to accurately distinguish the odor. When all the circumstances are considered, the factors supporting probable cause overwhelm those opposing it.
There is no reason why reversal cannot apply rather than overturning Taylor. To the extent that the Taylor majority may have misread the Taylor and Johnson United States Supreme Court
Jennifer M. Granholm, Attorney General, Thomas L. Casey, Solicitor General, David G. Gorcyca, Prosecuting Attorney, Daniel L. Lemisch, Chief, Appellate Division, and Robert C. Williams, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
Frederick M. Finn for the defendant-appellee.
Amicus Curiae:
Elwood Brown, President, John D. O‘Hair, Prosecuting Attorney, and Timothy A. Baughman, Chief, Research, Training and Appeals, for Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan.
TAYLOR, J. Defendant was charged with possession with intent to deliver marijuana.
STATEMENT OF PROCEEDINGS BELOW
Marijuana was found in the trunk of defendant‘s car after he was stopped for speeding. Defendant was
Defendant filed an interlocutory appeal in the Court of Appeals. While that appeal was pending, this Court issued its decision in People v Taylor, supra. Two weeks later, the Court of Appeals entered the following order:
Pursuant to MCR 7.205(D)(2) the February 13, 1997 order of the Oakland Circuit Court is vacated and the case remanded for reconsideration of defendant‘s motion to suppress evidence and dismiss the information in light of People v Taylor [citation omitted], holding that the odor of marijuana alone is not sufficient probable cause to search a vehicle without a warrant, but may be one factor to consider in the totality of the circumstances. [Unpublished order, entered June 30, 1997 (Docket No. 203590).]
At a subsequent evidentiary hearing, Officer Jason Bordo testified that he stopped defendant for speeding twenty miles over the posted limit. Bordo indicated he was five to ten feet behind the rear bumper of the car when he detected “a very strong smell of marijuana emanating from the vehicle” that was “overpowering.” Bordo stated that he had previously participated in fifteen to twenty cases involving marijuana and that, although he could not definitively describe the smell of marijuana, he could distinguish between burning marijuana and unburned marijuana and that the smell he detected was of unburned marijuana.
Defense counsel‘s cross-examination of Bordo ended as follows:
Q. Okay. So the only basis for searching the trunk was your claim of smelling the odor of marijuana, is that true?
A. That is true.
Defense counsel thanked Bordo for his candid testimony and asked the court to suppress the evidence and dismiss the case because Bordo had admitted that the only basis for his search was the smell of marijuana and that was not enough pursuant to People v Taylor.
The trial court concluded the evidentiary hearing by indicating that it believed Bordo had been very forthright. The court subsequently issued an opinion and order stating the case was before the court for reconsideration in light of People v Taylor and further stating:
The Court first notes that it finds that the testimony of Troy Police Officer Jason Bordo was credible. The Court also notes that the only offense that Officer Bordo observed to warrant the traffic stop was an alleged driving in excess of the posted speed limit. In other words, this case amounted to a routine traffic stop. The Court further finds that the facts surrounding the search of Defendant‘s vehicle established no exception to the Fourth Amendment Warrant Clause. Officer Bordo testified that the only basis for his search of Defendant‘s vehicle was the smell of marijuana.
Therefore, since the odor of marijuana was the sole factor to support the search, the Court finds that there was not sufficient probable cause for the warrantless search of Defendant‘s vehicle.
The prosecution appealed the trial court‘s order to the Court of Appeals, which affirmed on the basis of People v Taylor.1 The Court of Appeals opinion stated as follows in a footnote:
If we were not bound by our Supreme Court‘s holding in Taylor, supra, we would reverse the lower court‘s decision and hold that odor alone is sufficient probable cause to justify the search of an automobile. Like the majority of courts in other states and jurisdictions, we are persuaded that detection of the odor of either fresh marijuana or marijuana smoke, standing alone, provides probable cause for a warrantless search. See, e.g., State v Sarto, 195 NJ Super 565, 574; 481 A2d 281 (1984) (reversing the order of suppression because “the strong odor of unburned marijuana gave police probable cause to search the trunk for evidence of contraband“); Waugh v State, 20 Md App 682, 691; 318 A2d 204 (1974) (stating that “[t]rained investigators are entitled to rely upon the sense of smell to establish probable cause, just as surely as they are entitled to rely upon the senses of sight, hearing, touch or taste“), rev‘d on other grounds 275 Md 22, 30; 338 A2d 268 (1975). See generally the collection of cases catalogued at 68 Am Jur 2d, Searches and Seizures, “Detection of Odor,” § 72 (1993) and “Odor of Narcotics as Providing Probable Cause for Warrantless Search,” 5 ALR4th 681 (1981).
The prosecution filed an application for leave to appeal, asking this Court to revisit People v Taylor and to rule that the odor of marijuana by itself is sufficient to provide probable cause for the search of an
CONTROLLING LEGAL AUTHORITIES
The
The right to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures absent a warrant based upon probable cause is subject to several specifically established and well-delineated exceptions. People v Davis, 442 Mich 1, 10; 497 NW2d 910 (1993). Probable cause to issue a search warrant exists where there is a “substantial basis” for inferring a “fair probability” that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a
In order to show that a search was in compliance with the
One of the well-established exceptions to the warrant requirement is known as the automobile or motor vehicle exception. As explained in Pennsylvania v Labron, 518 US 938, 940; 116 S Ct 2485; 135 L Ed 2d 1031 (1996), the automobile exception is premised on an automobile‘s ready mobility and pervasive regulation, and if a car is readily mobile and probable cause exists to believe it contains contraband, the
PEOPLE V TAYLOR
In People v Taylor, the four-justice majority rejected the claim that the smell of marijuana alone was sufficient to provide probable cause to conduct a search of a motor vehicle without a warrant. Rather, the majority indicated that the smell of marijuana was but one factor to consider in the totality of the circumstances.
In a key passage, the majority stated:
The [Taylor v United States, 286 US 1; 52 S Ct 466; 76 L Ed 951 (1932)] Court stated:
“Prohibition officers may rely on a distinctive odor as a physical fact indicative of possible crime; but its presence alone does not strip the owner of a building of constitutional guarantees against unreasonable search.” [Id. at 6.]
Later, in Johnson v United States, 333 US 10, 13; 68 S Ct 367; 92 L Ed 436 (1948), the Court reiterated that Taylor held
goods concealed and illegally transported in an automobile or other vehicle may be searched for without a warrant“); United States v Ross, 456 US 798, 820, n 26, 825; 102 S Ct 2157; 72 L Ed 2d 572 (1982) (“During virtually the entire history of our country—whether contraband was transported in a horse-drawn carriage, a 1921 roadster, or a modern automobile—it has been assumed that a lawful search of a vehicle would include a search of any container that might conceal the object of the search“); Wyoming v Houghton, 526 US 295, 307; 119 S Ct 1297; 143 L Ed 2d 408 (1999) (“police officers with probable cause to search a car may inspect passengers’ belongings found in the car that are capable of concealing the object of the search“); and Maryland v Dyson, 527 US 465, 466; 119 S Ct 2013; 144 L Ed 2d 442 (1999) (“the ‘automobile exception’ has no separate exigency requirement“).
“only that odors alone do not authorize a search without warrant. If the presence of odors is testified to before a magistrate and he finds the affiant qualified to know the odor, and it is one sufficiently distinctive to identify a forbidden substance, this Court has never held such a basis insufficient to justify issuance of a search warrant. Indeed it might very well be found to be evidence of most persuasive character.”
Because the United States Supreme Court has held that odor alone is not sufficient to authorize a search of a building without a warrant, we hold that odor alone is not sufficient probable cause to search a vehicle. Rather, as these cases indicate, odor should be but one factor to consider in a totality of the circumstances. [454 Mich 592-593 (emphasis added).]
Three members of the Court dissented in an opinion written by Justice WEAVER, stating that they would hold
that the plain smell of burned or unburned marijuana provides probable cause to search a vehicle without a warrant. [Id. at 596.]
ANALYSIS
This Court‘s opinion in Taylor was erroneously decided because it confused the concept of probable cause and how it may be shown with the concept of search warrant exceptions and when they exist.7 A two-step analysis is required. Given that Bordo‘s stop of defendant‘s vehicle was permissible,8 one must first
The United States Supreme Court decisions in Taylor v United States9 and Johnson v United States10 suggest that when a qualified person smells an odor sufficiently distinctive to identify contraband, the odor alone may provide probable cause to believe that contraband is present. Thus, the odor provides a “substantial basis” for inferring a “fair probability” that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found. People v Russo, supra at 604. Here, Officer Bordo testified that he had previous experience involving marijuana investigations and that he recognized “a very strong smell of marijuana emanating from the vehicle.” The trial court found the officer‘s testimony to
The next inquiry is whether a search warrant was obtained or if a search warrant exception existed. Given that a warrant was not sought, the question is whether a search warrant exception allowed officer Bordo to search defendant‘s car without a warrant. The answer to this question is also affirmative because this case presents a classic example of the automobile exception to the warrant requirement. As indicated in Pennsylvania v Labron, supra at 940, if probable cause exists to believe a car contains contraband, the
The Taylor majority erroneously concluded:
Because the United States Supreme Court has held that odor alone is not sufficient to authorize a search of a building without a warrant, we hold that odor alone is not sufficient probable cause to search a vehicle. [Id. at 593.]
The flaw in this reasoning is that there is no building exception to the warrant requirement, whereas there is an automobile exception to the warrant requirement. Further, the Court in Johnson v United States specifically stated that its holding that a search warrant was required in addition to positive evidence of the odor of contraband turned on the fact that the
The dissent takes the position that the officer‘s experience and ability to recognize the odor of marijuana is a separate factor to be considered in the totality of the circumstances. We disagree. While the officer‘s experience is relevant to the weight that should be accorded the officer‘s testimony that he had detected the odor of marijuana, it is not an independent factor indicating the presence of contraband.
We reject the meritless assertion by the dissent that this case can be distinguished from Taylor by the fact that the officer in this case had more experience smelling marijuana than the officer in Taylor.12 The
The dissent concludes that our decision to overrule Taylor is unnecessary and inappropriate. Because Taylor reached the opposite conclusion on the legal question at issue, we do not agree. In Taylor, this Court effectively held that probable cause cannot exist when the odor of marijuana is the only factor indicating the presence of contraband. Our holding is to the contrary: Probable cause can exist when the odor of marijuana is the only factor indicating the presence of contraband.
STARE DECISIS
Finally, we indicate that we have considered principles of stare decisis before deciding to overrule Taylor. With reference to stare decisis, this Court stated as follows in People v Graves, 458 Mich 476, 480-481; 581 NW2d 229 (1998):
that a different result might have been reached if the first officer on the scene had testified that he had special training in smelling marijuana.
It is true of course that we do not lightly overrule a case. This Court has stated on many occasions that “[u]nder the doctrine of stare decisis, principles of law deliberately examined and decided by a court of competent jurisdiction should not be lightly departed.” Further, “[b]efore this court overrules a decision deliberately made, it should be convinced not merely that the case was wrongly decided, but also that less injury will result from overruling than from following it.” When it becomes apparent that the reasoning of an opinion is erroneous, and that less mischief will result from overruling the case rather than following it, it becomes the duty of the court to correct it. Although we respect the principle of stare decisis, we also recognize the common wisdom that the rule of stare decisis is not an inexorable command. [Citations omitted.]
With these guiding principles in mind, we overrule Taylor because it clearly misread and misapplied United States constitutional law as clearly articulated by the United States Supreme Court in its opinions concerning the motor vehicle exception to the search warrant requirements of the
Finally, by overruling Taylor, and declaring that the smell of marijuana alone13 by a person qualified to know the odor may establish probable cause to search a motor vehicle, pursuant to the motor vehicle exception to the warrant requirement, we return Michigan to the majority view.14 As United States v Staula, 80 F3d 596 (CA 1, 1996), states, the law is
Reversed and remanded for further proceedings.
WEAVER, C.J., and CORRIGAN, YOUNG, and MARKMAN, JJ., concurred with TAYLOR, J.
KELLY, J. (dissenting in part and concurring in part). The majority unnecessarily and inappropriately overrules People v Taylor1 to hold that the smell of marijuana by a qualified police officer may establish probable cause for a warrantless search of a motor vehicle.2
Taylor held that the odor of marijuana alone is insufficient to create probable cause to search a vehicle. In that case, the arresting police officer had little practical experience and no training in detecting the odor. In this case, the officer had extensive experience in the area. Hence the finding of probable cause here is based on more than the odor of marijuana. It is based on the odor, coupled with the knowledge necessary to accurately distinguish the odor.3
But I stress that the finding is not based solely on the odor of marijuana. It is based on the odor, plus the officer‘s ability accurately to detect the odor, weighed with the other relevant facts.4 When all is
In footnote 12 of its opinion, the majority notes that the second officer summoned as back-up in Taylor also testified regarding smelling marijuana. This was not relevant in determining whether probable cause existed on the basis of the totality of the circumstances. “[T]he level of intrusion upon the defendants escalated to a seizure requiring probable cause when Officer Walendzik summoned dispatch for back-up.” Id. at 590. Furthermore, the Taylor majority specifically noted that the second officer likewise lacked any special training in identifying the smell of marijuana. The Taylor Court‘s emphasis on the officers’ lack of special training suggests that probable cause may have been found had the first officer testified that he had such training.
The Taylor Court stated that the “odor [of marijuana] alone is not sufficient probable cause to search a vehicle.” Id. at 593. This is not inconsistent with the Court‘s holding today that the odor of marijuana alone by a person qualified to know the odor may establish probable cause.
In both cases, the odor without more is insufficient for probable cause. Also, in both a totality of the circumstances must be considered before probable cause can be determined.
I see no reason why this reversal cannot apply rather than overturn Taylor. To the extent that the Taylor majority may have misread the Taylor and Johnson United States Supreme Court cases, it can be corrected without undermining the overall validity of the holding. Johnson v United States, 333 US 10; 68 S Ct 367; 92 L Ed 2d 436 (1948).
This Court should correct the Court of Appeals perception that “the odor of either fresh marijuana or marijuana smoke, standing alone, provides probable cause for a warrantless search.” We should clarify that all relevant circumstances must be considered and that the odor, coupled with an officer‘s training,
Likewise, in United States v Jerez, 108 F3d 684, 708 (CA 7, 1997), the Seventh Circuit stated:
“[W]e consider the ‘totality of the circumstances’ as they were presented to the officer at the time of the encounter. Included in this picture are the officer‘s experience and his knowledge of the typical behavior of persons involved in [such criminal activity].”
The majority counters that an officer‘s training and experience is not “an independent factor indicating the presence of contraband.” Rather it goes to the reliability of the officer‘s testimony that the odor of contraband was detected. Ante, p 423. I disagree. Numerous factors universally considered as part of the totality of the circumstances are more relevant to the weight to be given an officer‘s testimony than independently evidencing the presence of contraband, e.g., the packaging of marijuana in such a manner that detection of its odor is unlikely, the presence of wind or competing odors that could confuse or overwhelm the officer‘s sense of smell, or a head cold that adversely affects the arresting officer‘s sense of smell. Because these are all independent factors considered in the totality of the circumstances, the training and experience of the officer must be, as well. The majority cites no authority for the proposition that to be a “factor” included in the totality of the circumstances analysis something must independently show the presence of contraband.
CAVANAGH, J., concurred with KELLY, J.
Notes
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
The person, houses, papers and possessions of every person shall be secure from unreasonable searches and seizures. No warrant to search any place or to seize any person or things shall issue without describing them, nor without probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to bar from evidence in any criminal proceeding any narcotic drug . . . seized by a peace officer outside the curtilage of any dwelling house in this state. In setting out the facts in Taylor, the majority specifically mentions that the officer instigating the search “had no special training in the smell of marijuana and that he had not been administered a test regarding the smell of marijuana.” Id. at 584. The training and experience of the officer did not bolster his claim that he smelled marijuana upon approaching the defendant‘s car. In the totality of the circumstances analysis, his experience was not a factor indicating probable cause. No other fact supporting a finding of probable cause was presented except the officer‘s claim that he smelled marijuana. At no time was marijuana found. Id. at 585.
[I]n reviewing probable cause determinations, we must consider the totality of the circumstances—including the officers’ training and experience as well as their knowledge of the situation at hand.
“[T]he
The majority claims no reliance interests aside from those of “illicit substance transporter[s]” are affected by its decision today. Ante, p 425. However, lawyers, state courts at all levels and the law enforcement community rely on the stability of the law in performing their respective duties competently and efficiently. This reliance interest is adversely affected when we rapidly and needlessly overrule a precedent.