Opinion
2013-10-3
The PEOPLE of the State of New York, Respondent, v. Hector VELEZ, Defendant–Appellant.
Robert S. Dean, Center for Appellate Litigation, New York (Mark W. Zeno of counsel), for appellant. Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., District Attorney, New York (Sara M. Zausmer of counsel), for respondent.
Robert S. Dean, Center for Appellate Litigation, New York (Mark W. Zeno of counsel), for appellant. Cyrus R. Vance, Jr., District Attorney, New York (Sara M. Zausmer of counsel), for respondent.
MAZZARELLI, J.P., RENWICK, DeGRASSE, FREEDMAN, FEINMAN, JJ.
Judgment, Supreme Court, New York County (Herbert J. Adlerberg, J.H.O. at suppression hearing; Rena K. Uviller, J. at suppression ruling; A. Kirke Bartley, Jr., J. at plea; Rena K. Uviller, J. at sentencing), rendered July 28, 2011, convicting defendant of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree, and sentencing him, as a second felony drug offender, to a term of 2 1/2 years, unanimously reversed, on the law, and the indictment dismissed.
The suspicionless vehicle checkpoint stop that led to the recovery of contraband in this case was constitutionally impermissible because the primary purpose of the checkpoint was “essentially to serve the governmental interest in general crime control” ( People v. Jackson, 99 N.Y.2d 125, 129, 752 N.Y.S.2d 271, 782 N.E.2d 67 [2002], citing City of Indianapolis v. Edmond, 531 U.S. 32, 121 S.Ct. 447, 148 L.Ed.2d 333 [2000] ). It is undisputed that the primary purpose of the checkpoint was to deter or control auto theft. Contrary to the People's assertions, the interest in “controlling automobile thefts,” as described in this case, “is not distinguishable from the general interest in crime control” ( People v. Jackson, 99 N.Y.2d at 131, 752 N.Y.S.2d 271, 782 N.E.2d 67 quoting Delaware v. Prouse, 440 U.S. 648, 659 n. 18, 99 S.Ct. 1391, 59 L.Ed.2d 660 [1979] [emphasis supplied by Court of Appeals]; see also City of Indianapolis, 531 U.S. at 39–40, 121 S.Ct. 447). Under the applicable precedents, a secondary goal of promoting highway safety does not justify a checkpoint stop.