Atwater v. City of Lago Vista PDF

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atwater v lagos vistas case brief...

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Atwater' v.'City' of'Lago'Vista' Wednesday,# October# 19,# 2016

12:55# PM

2000#

• Facts:# ○ Under# law# in#texas# - it's#a#misdemeanor# (punishable# only#by#fine)# for# a#front# seat#passenger# not#to#wear# seat#belt# or#for# driver# to#secure# any#small# children ○ Gail# Atwater# driving# truck# in#Lago# Vista#- neither# of#her#children# in# the#front# seat#were# wearing# seat# belts# ○ Officer# pulls# Atwater# over# --># handcuffed,# jailed,# relased# on#bond ○ Filed# suit#alleging# the#officer's# actions# violated# her#4th#amendment# right# from# unreasonable# seizure# § Court# ruled# this#to#be#a#meritless# claim □ No#dispute# that# the#officer# had#probable# cause# to#arrest# her □ No#evidence# that# arrest# was#conducted# in#extraordinary# matter • Issue:# Does# the#4th#amendment,# either# by#incorporating# common-law# restrictions# or#misdemeanor# arrests# or#otherwise,# limit# a#police# officer's# authority# to#arrest# without# warrant# for# minor# criminal# offenses? • Holding:# NO ○ Fourth# Amendment# does# not#forbid# a#warrantless# arrest# for# a#minor# criminal# offense,# such# as#a#misdemeanor# seatbelt# violation# punishable# only#by#a#fine. § "If#an#officer# has#probable# cause# to#believe# that#an#individual# has#committed# even# a#very# minor# criminal# offense# in#his# presence,# he#may,# without# violating# the#Fourth# Amendment,# arrest# the#offender,"...