Opinion
October 3, 1995
Appeal from the Supreme Court, New York County (Emily Jane Goodman, J.).
Suppression was properly granted as the evidence seized was the fruit of an unjustified stop. The testimony of the People's only witness at the suppression hearing clearly established that the traffic violation for which the cab in which defendant was a passenger was stopped was merely a pretext to investigate defendant on an unrelated matter. In particular, we note the failure of the police officers to check on the cab's license plate or to issue its driver a summons ( see, People v. Laws, 213 A.D.2d 226, lv denied 85 N.Y.2d 975).
Concur — Rosenberger, J.P., Ellerin, Williams, Tom and Mazzarelli, JJ.