U.S. v. Flores

In prosecution on drug distribution charge, Dist. Ct. erred in denying defendant’s motion to suppress drugs found in defendant’s vehicle, as well as his subsequent confession, where police lacked reasonable suspicion to stop defendant’s vehicle on alleged violation involving display of his rear license plate. This is so, Ct. found, because arresting officer could not have reasonably believed that defendant’s commonplace license plate frame violated state law. Ct. rejected Dist. Ct.’s belief that because certain aspects of plate were hidden, violation occurred even though officer conceded that he could eventually decipher plate as he drew near to vehicle.