U.S. v. Taylor

In prosecution on drug distribution charge, Dist. Ct. did not err in denying defendant’s motion to suppress drugs seized from defendant’s vehicle after defendant was stopped for seatbelt violation. Defendant gave valid consent to search vehicle after police informed him that police would be walking drug-sniffing dog around exterior of vehicle, and length of detention between defendant’s traffic stop and time he gave consent to search was of short duration. Fact that police officers may have had ulterior motive of conducting drug investigation was irrelevant where initial stop for seatbelt violation and subsequent questioning of defendant were proper.