People v. Sinegal

(Prior court opinion vacated 5/5/11.) Defendant was convicted of unlawful possession of cannabis. Police officer stopped vehicle with tinted windows and no front license plate, then learned, from warrant check, that occupants had cocaine trafficking convictions; officer entered vehicle with permission, to view gas gauge (as occupants told him they stopped for gas), and saw package wrapped in opaque green plastic shrink wrap. Officer pierced plastic, revealing contents to be cannabis. Combination of all circumstances, including two officers' knowledge, training, and experience that package was of type used to transport drugs, gave rise to probable cause to arrest Defendant and seize package and its contents without a warrant. Thus, court properly denied motions to quash and suppress. (WELCH and DONOVAN, concurring.)