86-054
May the city police in Van Buren establish a general roadblock to check for violations of license and registration laws? Attached is a copy of state police rules and regulation on the topic, adopted in response to a court order. ANSWER: Fourth Amendment search and seizure. Constitutional prohibi
Cite as Ark. Op. Att'y Gen. 86-054
ae STATE OF ARKANSAS Bf ITE
: OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
JUSTICE BUILDING, LITTLE ROCK 72201
_ STEVE CLARK ff (501) 371-2007
ATTORNEY GENERAL 4 oO
ee nee .
OPINION NO. 86-54
a
March 14, 1986
The Honorable Morril Harriman
State Senator
522 Main Street
Van Buren, AR 72956
Dear Senator Harriman:
You have requested a formal opinion regarding the legality
of a general roadblock being established in Van Buren,
Arkansas by the City Police. The roadblock, as I understand
it, would occur for the purpose of determining violations of
license and registration laws.
Please find enclosed a copy of the Arkansas State Police
regulations regarding use of roadblocks for enforcement of
driver ticense and vehicle registration laws. These were
adopted subsequent to a lawsuit challenging such practices
of the State Police in Garrett v. Goodwin, 569 F.Supp.
106(1982), —_
| A copy of the Court's opinion is enclosed for your
| - information as it addresses at length the law on this
| subject. The decision in Garrett, supra, was appealed by
- the State only as to attorneys! fees and thus, the
substantive law of the case stands as current precedent.
AS you can see, the principles enunciated by the federal
: court for the Eastern District of Arkansas are as follows:
1. Stopping a vehicle at a roadblock conducted for any
purpose constitutes a seizure under the Fourth and
Fourteenth amendments to the U.S. Constitution.
2. Roadblocks are not sanctioned if, in reality, the
roadblock is set up as a pretext or a subterfuge for
purposes other than driver license and’registration
checks,
|
The Honorable Morril Harriman
page 2
3. Certain practical factors are more acceptable in the
setting up of roadblocks; namely, minimal interfetence
with traffic and that the location of roadblocks is not
chosen by field officers but by officials responsible
for making overall decisions as to the most effective
allocation of limited enforcement resources.
4, The United States Supreme Court has held that purely
random stops for driver's license checks are
unreasonable under the Fourth amendment in Delaware v.
Prouse, 440 U.S. 648, 99 S.Ct. 1391, 59 L.ed.2d 660
(i979). That case held that except in those situations
in which there is at least an articulable and reasonable
suspicion that a motorist is unlicensed or an automobile
unregistered that the stopping of the automobile is
unreasonable under the Fourth amendment. The Supreme
Court suggested alternative methods of conducting
roadblocks such as the queStioning of all oncoming
traffic at roadblock type stops.
5. Officers should not order or request the driver or
occupant of a vehicle to get out of the car unless there
is an independent legal justification to warrant the
action.
6. I£ the city police conduct a warrantless search of a
car they must have legal justification for doing so.
7. A "drug dog" cannot be used indiscriminately in such
roadblocks.
I believe this case and the State Police guidelines provide
- a good guide of the current law regarding this subject. In
summary, such roadblocks may be conducted under the
guidelines set forth herein and in the attached.
The foregoing opinion, which I hereby approve, was prepared
by Special Counsel R.B. Friedlander.
Sincerely,
Attorngy General
SC/RB/mo
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Service: LEXSEE®
Citation: 1982 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17337
569 F. Supp. 106, *; 1982 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17337, **
GARY GARRETT, STEVE GARRETT, CRAIG DOWLAND, DONNA DOWLAND, BRUCE SILVERMAN,
WYATT CAREY, DAVE SOMERS, JAMES BISHOP, REBECCA TURNER, and GREG PARISH,
PLAINTIFFS v. COL. TOMMY L. GOODWIN, Director of the Arkansas State Police; LT. COL.
GEORGE MOYE, Arkansas State Police; MAJ. BUREN JACKSON, Arkansas State Police; CAPT.
DAVE DAVIDSON, Arkansas State Police; LT. DAVE ROSEGRANT, Arkansas State Police; LT.
FRED ODOM, Arkansas State Police; SGT. BOB COOPER, State Police; SGT. DWIGHT TOSH,
Arkansas State Police; SGT. BILL YOUNG, Arkansas State Police; CAPT. JIM BEACH, Arkansas
State Police; MANUEL HOLCOMB, Director of the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory; ROY
JOHNSON, Chief of the State Highway Police; Division of the Arkansas Highway and
Transportation Department; CAPT. MAX RAY, State Highway Police Division of the Arkansas
Highway and Transportation Department; LT. CHARLES BREEDING, State Highway Police
Division of the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department; LT. DANNY McCLEAN,
State Highway Police Division of the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department; SGT.
TOMMY BRIGGS, State Highway Police Division of the Arkansas Highway and Transportation
Department; CHARLES DYE, Chief of the Blytheville, Arkansas, Police Department; SGT. MIKE
MEDFORD, Blytheville, Arkansas, Police Department; and COOLIDGE CONLEE, St. Francis
County Sheriff, DEFENDANTS
No, LR-C-82-385
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF ARKANSAS, WESTERN
DIVISION
569 F. Supp. 106; 1982 U.S, Dist. LEXIS 17337
December 17, 1982
CORE TERMS: roadblock, driver, license, probable cause, marijuana, dog, conducting, Fourth
Amendment, interstate highway, resident, traffic, trunk, narcotic, motorist, plain view, truck,
passenger, searched, interstate, saturation, regularly, driving, arrest, travel, seizure, vehicle
registration, legal justification, decree, registration, briefing
COUNSEL: [**1]
For the Plaintiffs: Arkansas Civil Liberties Foundation, Inc., John Wesley Hall, Jr., Little Rock,
Arkansas, Larry D. Vaught, Little Rock, Arkansas.
For the Defendants: Steve Clark, Attorney General, Little Rock, Arkansas, For Defendants
Goodwin, Moye, Jackson, Davidson, Rosegrant, Odom, Cooper, Tosh, Young, Beach, and
Holcomb.
Chris Parker, Ark. H. and T. Dept., Little Rock, Arkansas, For Defendants Johnson, Ray,
Breeding, McClean, and Briggs.
Graham Sudbury, Blytheville, Arkansas, For Defendants Dye and Medford.
Fletcher Long, Jr., Forrest City, Arkansas, For Defendant Conlee.
JUDGES: George Howard, Jr., United States District Judge.
OPINIONBY: HOWARD, JR.
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OPINION: [*108] CONSENT DECREE AND JUDGMENT
Based on the Joint Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law entered in this case, the
parties enter into the following consent decree for injunctive relief:
1. The Court adopts the Joint Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law as the
findings of the court in this case under F.R.C.P. 52(a).
2. The Court further finds that the conduct of this roadblock, as it affected the plaintiffs
herein, constituted a seizure under the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution.
[**2]
3. The defendants, State Police employees, are permanently enjoined to promulgate a written
policy before March 1, 1983 based on the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law adopted by
the Court herein governing the conducting of licensing and registration roadblocks and to
follow such policy. This policy shall, at a minimum, address the following:
A. Decision to conduct roadblock to be made at a management level;
B. Considerations governing location, duration, magnitude, etc.;
C. Presence of non traffic enforcement personnel at or near the scene;
D. Ordering motorists out of vehicles;
E. Fourth Amendment considerations, including the following:
a. Plain view searches
oy
. Use of drug dogs
c. Probable cause to search
d. Consent to search
@
. Use of D.E.A. drug courier profile
F. Mandatory instruction and/or briefing prior to the conducting of the roadblock.
4, The parties agree and the Court holds that damages claims of all plaintiffs as well as
claims for declaratory relief are hereby waived.
[*109] 5. It is not the intention of this decree to restrict the activities of law enforcement
other than [**3] is required by the Courts or the legislature under the Fourth Amendment,
nor is it the intention of the parties that the Court will maintain any kind of supervisory role
over the Arkansas State Police with regard to roadblocks.
6. The parties further recognize that significant changes in the law of search and seizure that
may affect this decree can be remedied by modification of the written policies of the Arkansas
State Police promulgated pursuant to this decree, and that modification of the decree itself is
not necessary or required.
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7. This decree only affects the actions of the Arkansas State Police in conducting roadblocks
for drivers license and vehicle registration checks.
8. By entering into this decree, defendants, State Police employees, do not admit either
liability or wrongdoing.
9. The parties agree that the plaintiffs herein are entitled to a reasonable attorneys' fee and
that the amount of such fee shall be determined by the Court.
Plaintiffs are to submit their request for attorneys' fee, with supporting documentation by
January 4, 1983. The defendants shall respond by January 14, 1983, and the plaintiffs may
reply by January 21, 1983.
It is hereby considered, [**4] ordered, decreed and adjudged that this Consent Decree be
entered this 17th day of December, 1982.
IT IS SO ORDERED.
I, FINDINGS OF FACT
The parties make the following Joint Proposed Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law
pursuant to F.R.C.P. 52(a) in support of the proposed Consent Decree:
[*110] A. Introduction
1.1 On May 3-4, 1982, the Arkansas State Police and other law enforcement agencies
conducted a roadblock on Interstate 40 near Forrest City, Arkansas. This roadblock fasted
twenty-three hours from 6:00 p.m. on May 3 to 5:00 p.m. on May 4.
1.2 On May 29, 1982, seven motorists and three passengers of some of the motorists filed
this action for declaratory and injunctive relief alleging that (1) the Arkansas State Police
policy of conducting “saturation enforcement" roadblocks on interstate highways is
unconstitutional under the Fourth Amendment and (2) the May 3-4, 1982 roadblock on
Interstate 40 was unreasonable and violated the Fourth Amendment because of the way it
was conducted. On August 23, 1982, plaintiffs filed an Amended Complaint with leave of the
Court to allege a conspiracy and name additional defendants in management of the agencies
involved [**5] who participated in the alleged conspiracy.
B. Parties -- Plaintiffs
1.3 Plaintiff Gary Garrett is a resident of Saline County, Arkansas. He regularly drives the
state and interstate highway system in Arkansas, traveling to West Memphis, Arkansas from
Benton, Arkansas an average of two or three times a week.
1.4 Plaintiff Steve Garrett is a resident of Pulaski County, Arkansas. He regularly drives the
state and interstate highway system in Arkansas. He often travels with his brother Gary
Garrett to West Memphis, Arkansas.
1.5 Plaintiff Craig Dowland is a resident of Crittenden County, Arkansas. He travels daily
interstate to Memphis, Tennessee to work over the state and [nterstate highway system in
Arkansas.
1.6 Plaintiff Donna Dowland is a resident of Crittenden County, Arkansas. She and Craig
‘ ) Dowland are married. She regularly drives the state and interstate highway system in
‘--“ Arkansas.
1.7 Plaintiff Bruce Silverman is a resident of Texas. He regularly travels between Austin,
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Texas and Reynoldsville, Ohio. He was doing so on May 4, 1982, driving from Texas to Chio,
and he will do so again a few times a year.
1.8 Plaintiff Wyatt Carey is a resident of Tennessee [**6] and Texas. His work causes him
to travel regularly to Arkansas where he must drive over the state and interstate highway
system,
1.9 Plaintiff Dave Somers is a resident of Austin, Texas. He has driven and will in the future
be driving through Arkansas on the state and interstate highway system.
1.10 Plaintiff James Bishop is a resident of Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He is a truck driver who
regularly travels on the state and interstate highway system in Arkansas.
1.11 Plaintiff Rebecca Turner is a resident of Memphis, Tennessee. She regularly travels into
or through Arkansas on the state and interstate highway system.
1.12 Plaintiff Greg Parish is a resident of Memphis, Tennessee. He regularly travels into or
through Arkansas on the state and interstate highway system.
1.13 Each of the plaintiffs was detained at the roadblock conducted by the defendants in St.
Francis County, Arkansas on May 3-4, 1982.
1.14 Plaintiffs Steve Garrett, Craig Dowland, Dave Somers, Greg Parish, and James Bishop
were cited or subjected to a custodial arrest for driver's license or vehicle registration
offenses.
1.15 Plaintiffs Bruce Silverman and-Wyatt Carey were driving vehicles stopped at the
roadblock, [**7] and they were not cited for any traffic offenses. Their vehicles, were
searched and alleged controlled substances were found for which they were charged with
misdemeanor possession in state court. They allege their vehicles were searched without
probable cause or consent, although defendants contend that the searches were lawful.
Silverman's luggage was also searched. Carey's vehicle was also subjected to a search by a
"drug dog" allegedly without any legal justification or consent. The defendants contend it was
consensual and !egaily justifiable.
[*¥112] 1.16 Plaintiff Gary Garrett was a passenger in a car driven by his brother, Steve
Garrett. He was subjected to a stop at the roadblock and made to wait while money was
wired for his brother's bail because agents of defendant Conlee refused to allow his brother to
sign the ticket and allow them to proceed.
1,17 Plaintiff Donna Dowland was a passenger in a car driven by her husband at the
roadblock, After his arrest for not having a driver's license, she was effectively detained with
him because agents of defendant Conlee would not permit her to cal! a bail bondsman from
the jail and because they refused to allow his brother [**8] to sign the ticket and allow
them to proceed.
1.18 Plaintiff Rebecca Turner was a passenger In a car driven by plaintiff Greg Parish stopped
at the roadblock. Parish was cited for not having a current inspection sticker, and they
contend that Parish's car was searched without probable cause or consent. Also, Turner's
purse was searched and controlled substances were found in the purse for which Turner was
charged with misdemeanor possession In state court. Parish was cited only for having no
inspection sticker.
1.19 Plaintiff James Bishop was driving a truck, and he was stopped at the roadblock. He was
issued a traffic citation which was later nolle prossed, and the cab of his truck was searched
allegedly without probable cause or consent. Nothing illegal was found, and he was not
charged in state court for any offense as a result of this search. It cannot be determined
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which agency conducted the search.
1.20 Trial was set for those plaintiffs charged from offenses occurring at the roadblock in
Forrest City Municipal Court on June 2, 1982.
1.21 Plaintiff James Bishop's traffic violation and plaintiff Bruce Silverman's misdemeanor
possession of marijuana charge were nolle [**9] prossed by the prosecuting attorney in the
Forrest City Municipal Court before jeopardy attached.
1.22 Plaintiffs Steve Garrett, Greg Dowland, and Dave Somers were found guilty of expired or
non-possession of driver's license offenses after trial in Forrest City Municipal Court.
1.23 Plaintiffs Dave Somers and Rebecca Turner were found guilty of misdemeanor
possession of marijuana in Forrest City Municipal Court.
1.24 Plaintiff Wyatt Carey was acquitted of the drug charges against him after the search of
the truck of his employer which he was driving was suppressed. Plaintiff Carey also asserted
that he could not be found guilty of a possessory offense when it could not be shown he had
exclusive control of the vehicle. The decision of the Municipal Court did not reach that
ground, but, rather, it was based on suppression of the evidence from an illegal search
without probable cause.
C. Parties -- Defendants
1.25 The following officers of the Arkansas State Police were sued in their official capacities
as defendants: Col. Tommy L. Goodwin, Director, Lt. Col. George Moye, Assistant Director,
Maj. Buren Jackson, Commander of the Eastern Region, Capt. Dave Davidson, Commander
7 [**10] of Troop D, Lt. David Rosegrant, Lt. Fred Odom, Sgt. Bob Cooper, Sgt. Dwight Tosh,
/ Sgt. Bill Young and Capt. J. M. Beach.
1.26 Also sued was Manuel Holcomb as Director of the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory. He
is sued in his official capacity.
1.27 The following officers of the Arkansas Highway Police Division of the Arkansas Highway
and Transportation Department are also sued: Roy Johnson, Chief, Capt. Max Ray, Captain of
District 5, Lt. Charles Breeding, Lt. Danny McClean, and Sgt. Tommy Briggs. Each is sued in
his official capacity.
1.28 Also sued were Chief Charles Dye and Sgt. Mike Medford of the Blytheville, Arkansas,
Police Department. Also sued was Sheriff Coolidge Conlee, Sheriff of St. Francis County,
Arkansas. All were sued in their official capacity.
[¥*112] D. Civil Conspiracy
1.29 Plaintiffs effectively raised the issue of the potential existence of a civil conspiracy in the
original complaint. With leave of the court, plaintiffs amended the complaint to specifically
allege the existence of a civil conspiracy.
1.30 The purpose of the civil conspiracy allegation was to expand the rules of evidence in this
case and the number of parties against [**11] whom relief may be sought. Defendants
contend that they were acting in good faith in establishing this roadblock both in its planning
and execution. Plaintiffs contend, on the other hand, that there was an unlawful purpose of
the roadblock; /.e., violations of constitutional rights of motorists and passengers. Plaintiffs
{ | have never and do not accuse any of the defendants of engaging In a criminal conspiracy
oe against the plaintiffs and other motorists.
1.31 Defendants Goodwin, Moye, Jackson, and Davidson, all participated in making the
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original decision of whether to conduct the roadblock as previously alleged. They effectively
put this plan in motion which the others entered.
1.32 Defendants Davidson, Odom, Cooper, Tosh, and Beach were the ranking Arkansas State
Police officers on the scene of the roadblock and supervised other officers of the Arkansas
State Police.
1.33 On April 16, 1982, defendant Max Ray was notified by letter that the Arkansas State
Police were planning a "traffic check-road block" on May 3 and 4 and he was asked if the
Arkansas Highway Police Division wished to participate. Defendant Ray telephoned defendant
Roy Johnson in Little Rock and received approval [**12] to participate by setting up a
portable scale and providing personnel to check for truck size, load, and motor fuel carrier
violations. Neither defendant Ray nor defendant Johnson knew which agencies would
participate In the roadblock prior to May 3.
1.34 Defendants Ray, Danny McClean, and Charles Breeding attended the briefing at Forrest
City Troop Headquarters of the Arkansas State Police prior to beginning the roadblock. On I-
40, portable scales were set up at the rest area a quarter of a mile from the roadblock.
Defendant Breeding, assisted by Buford Humphries, checked the weight and size of trucks
sent to them for that purpose during the first shift of the roadblock. Defendant Tommy Briggs
and Robert W. Hartman did this work at the second shift. Defendants McClean and Briggs
also made some of the decisions concerning which trucks, after they had been stopped and
processed by enforcement agents of the ICC and Arkansas Transportation Commission,
needed to proceed to the portable scales to be weighed and measured. Defendants Ray,
Breeding, McClean, and Briggs contend they did not participate in any searches of any
vehicles. Defendant Johnson was not present at the roadblock. [**13]
1.35 Defendants Dye and Medford joined with the other defendants at the roadblock by
/ agreeing to provide (Dye) and handling (Medford) a "drug dog" which was used in searches
of vehicles. Specifically, the dog was used in the search of plaintiff Carey's vehicle.
1.36 Defendant Conlee participated with the Arkansas State Police defendants in the conduct
alleged in the complaint in that defendant Conlee's deputies took custody of the motorists
and passengers arrested by the other officers and his county general fund benefited from the
fine money which was nearly $25,000.
1.37 Defendant Manuel Holcomb of the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory provided personnel
from his office to conduct drug field tests at the roadblock.
1.38 In addition to the named defendants, 65 other Arkansas State Police troopers, criminal!
investigation division officers, and narcotics offtcers, two Arkansas State Highway Police
officers, four employees of the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory, the Deputy Prosecuting
Attorney and Circuit Judge for St. Francis County, Arkansas, representatives of the U.S.
Border Patrol] and two employees of the National Auto Theft Bureau participated in the
decision to [¥113] [**14] conduct or the planning and execution of the roadblock.
1.39 Plaintiffs waive any damages.
E. The Saturation Enforcement Plan of The Arkansas State Police
1.40 The Arkansas State Police has a policy of conducting "saturation enforcement” on state
and interstate highways tn Arkansas. This policy was adopted at the headquarters level by
defendants Goodwin and Moye sometime before January 1982. Each of the twelve Arkansas
‘ y State Police districts was expected to conduct at least one "saturation enforcement” every
i month.
1.41. The decision of when and where to conduct a "saturation enforcement" was a decision
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not only of the Highway Patrol Division of the Arkansas State Police but also the Criminal
Investigation Division.
1.42 On January 15, 1982, defendant Moye issued a memorandum to defendant Jackson and
others which dealt with the need for more "saturation enforcements." This memo is Plaintiffs’
Exhibit A, infra.
1.43 The need for "saturation enforcement" in a particular area, thus, was to be determined
jointly by both the Highway Patrol Division and the Criminal Investigation Diviston. Plaintiffs'
Exhibit A states both the purpose and methodology of the Arkansas State [**15] Police in
conducting "saturation enforcements.” This policy was in effect when the May 3-4 I-40
roadblock occurred,
F. Planning the May 3-4 I-40 Roadblock
1.44 In February 1982, defendant Davidson determined that a roadblock on I-40 would be
quite productive as a "saturation enforcement." He requested authorization to do so.
1.45 In February and March 1982, defendants Davidson, Jackson, Moye, and Goodwin
determined that the Arkansas State Police would conduct a 24-hour roadblock of I-40 in St.
Francis County, Arkansas on May 3, 1982. The Arkansas State Police had enlisted the
assistance of the Arkansas Transportation Commission, the Interstate Commerce
Commission, the United States Department of Transportation, the United States Border
Patrol, the National Auto Theft Bureau, the Arkansas Highway Police Division of the Arkansas
Highway and Transportation Department, the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory, and the
Arkansas Crime Information Center to conduct the roadblock. Also, it was planned to use a
minimum of six Criminal Investigation Division officers, four Arkansas State Police narcotics
'. officers, and "at feast two narcotics dogs and handlers.” The plan was to have [**16] each
/ group of officers work in twelve hour shifts and have each shift work six hours in the west
bound lane and six hours in the east bound lane. Plafntiffs' Exhibit B (memorandum of March
30, 1982, from defendant Davidson to defendant Jackson),
1.46 As a result of the I-40 roadblock the Arkansas State Police defendants expected “that we
will make many arrest[s] for offenses ranging from DWI, Wanted Persons, Stolen Trucks and
Cars, Drugs and Narcotics, and so forth.” Id. It was stated in Plaintiff's Exhibit B that these
defendants expected that the I-40 roadblock "will be highly productive insofar as criminal and
traffic enforcement are concerned." Plaintiffs’ Exhibit B constituted a written plan of the
methodology of conducting this particular roadblock requested by defendant Jackson and
approved by defendant Goodwin.
1.47 Sometime before the roadblock actually occurred, some of the legal issues expected to
be encountered from the conducting of a roadblock were posed to Fletcher Long, Deputy
Prosecuting Attorney for St. Francis County, Arkansas. He instructed the others that "the
roadblock could not be of a random nature, that [they] would stop and check all vehicles and
[**17] in the event that traffic started backing up beyond a safe distance, that all vehicles
would be waved through until the level getting back within safety standards and again all
vehicles would be checked." Plaintiffs' Exhibit C (memorandum of May 12, [*114] 1982
from defendant Davidson to defendant Jackson).
1.48 Defendant Davidson "contacted Circuit Judge Henry Wilkinson of the first judicial district
and in general terms discussed [the] plans and discussed specifically the use of narcotics
dogs in order to establish probable cause In order to search suspect vehicles. Judge Wilkinson
was familiar with court decisions upholding the use of these dogs and stated he could forsee
i 4 no legal problems by their use.” Id,
1.49 The defendants were also relying on an article published in the FBI Law Enforcement
Bulfetin in determining how the roadblock would be conducted. See Schofield, The
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Constitutionality of Routine License Check Stops: A Review of Delaware v. Prouse, FBI Law
Enforcement Sulletin, January, 1980.
G. Conducting the May 3-4 I-40 Roadblock
1. 50 At 5:00 p.m. on May 3, 1982, defendant Davidson briefed the first crew at the Forrest
City Troop Headquarters [**18] of the Arkansas State Police. Present at that meeting were
the Arkansas State Police troopers, Criminal Investigation Division and narcotics officers
reporting for the 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. shift. Also present were personnel from the Arkansas
Transportation Commission, the National Auto Theft Bureau, and the Interstate Commerce
Commission, and defendant Ray from the Arkansas State Highway Police. At the briefing,
defendant Davidson stated that "the roadblock was to be conducted within the guidelines of
the U.S. Supreme Court decisions dealing with roadblocks, i.e., that the roadblock could not
be of a random nature, that we would stop and check all vehicles and in the event that traffic
started backing up beyond a safe distance, that all vehicles would be waved through until the
level getting back within safety standards and again all vehicles would be checked.” Plaintiffs'
Exhibit C.
The briefing did not involve a discussion about the legal justification for any anticipated
searches and seizures of vehicles, their occupants, their contents. Also, there was no
discussion at the briefing on when and how a drug dog would be used. Defendant Davidson
did not believe that such [**19] matters needed to be discussed at the briefing. The
second group was similarly briefed.
1.51 When the roadblock was actually conducted, plainclothes officers other than uniformed
Arkansas State Police troopers from the Highway Patrol Division were present at the scene.
1.52 When vehicles were stopped at the roadblock, uniformed troopers checked driver's
licenses and vehicle registrations.
1.53 Specialized personnel from other law enforcement agencies such as the State Highway
Police, the Arkansas State Highway Police, the Arkansas Transportation Commission, the U.S.
Interstate Commerce Commission, and the U.S. Department of Transportation checked
vehicles for weights and permits and other required documentation. The two employees of
the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory were there to conduct field tests of drugs.
1.54 Initially, Criminal Investigation Division and narcotics officers and a drug dog were only
to be called in to participate when uniformed troopers established probable cause from a
plain view as vehicles passed through the line of the roadblock.
1.55 At some point, maybe halfway into the roadblock, the Criminal Investigation Division
and narcotic officers began to [**20] walk up and down the waiting line of cars with the
purpose of conducting plain view searches. A narcotics officer so testified in Carey's trial in
state court.
1.56 The search of Plaintiffs Parish's and Silverman's vehicles took place without the driver of
the vehicle ever having to exhibit his driver's license or vehicle registration papers.
1.57 The drug sniffing dog belonging to the Blytheville Police Department and handled by
defendant Medford was brought in at the request of Arkansas State Police officers and
directed by them to sniff around Plaintiff Carey's vehicle. Defendant [*115] Medford only
brought in the dog when requested by the Arkansas State Police.
1.58 Plaintiffs Carey and Somers allege consent to search was demanded by stating to the
driver and occupants of the vehicle that the officers had a drug dog who would check their
vehicle for presence of contraband whether they consented or not. Defendants dispute this
allegation.
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7 1.59 Plaintiff Silverman alleges that his car was searched at the side of the road and not the
C ¥ rest area, and the contents of his luggage were placed on the roadside. The alleged probable
cause of the search of Silverman's vehicle was [**21] plain view observation of a "roach"
in the ashtray on the dashboard of the car. As a result of this alleged plain view the officers
searched the entire car and its contents, including luggage and other closed containers.
1.60 Plaintiff Carey was driving his employer's vehicle through the roadblock. With him were
two passengers, and they were all on a mission for their employer. Carey was not the
exclusive user of the vehicle. The vehicle had Mississippi dealer plates and it was owned by a
company out of Memphis, Tennessee. Carey had a Texas driver's license. The vehicle was
stopped at the roadblock, and Carey's driver's license was checked. He was waved on. Once
the dealer plate was seen by the officer, the officer yelled for Carey to stop the truck and get
out, which he did. When the vehicle was stopped the second time the occupants were ordered
out of the vehicle. Plaintiffs contend that the drug dog was used without any legal
justification and the dog gave a positive reaction for marijuana in the vicinity of the front
seat. The officers reached up under the front seat and pulled out a small vial from the
passenger's side which contained quaaludes. No marijuana was found [**22] in the
vehicle. This drug dog lacks the capability to detect and the training to indicate the presence
of quaaludes by smell. The issue of Carey's consent is not decided herein.
1.61 In Forrest City Municipal Court, the trial judge suppressed the evidence on Carey's
motion for lack of probable cause, and Carey was acquitted. The issue of Carey's exclusive
control of the truck did not bear in the judge's decision to acquit him.
1.62 The plaintiff Bishop's truck was searched by officers from an unknown police agency
allegedly without probable cause or consent. Plaintiff Bishop alleges Arkansas Transportation
Commission officers conducted the search. Nothing illegal was found, and he was not charged
7? with any offense as a result of the search. He was, however, charged with a traffic offense for
having an unregistered vehicle, but the vehicle was registered and the offense was nolle
prossed in Municipal Court.
1.63 Plaintiff Gary Garrett was a passenger in his brother plaintiff Steve Garrett's car. Steve
| Garrett was cited for an expired driver's license, and he was not allowed to sign the ticket
and proceed because he was a resident of Pulaski County. He was detained for several
[**23] hours by defendant Conlee’s deputies while he walted for money to be wired to him
for his bail. Gary Garrett was effectively detained with him although he was not charged. No
search occurred of the vehicle. Defendant Conlee contends the Arkansas State Police imposed
this requirement on his officers. The Arkansas State Police maintain that they were requested
by the St. Francis County Sheriff's Deputies to require Pulaski County residents to post bond,
as service of process was difficult to obtain from that county.
1.64 Plaintiff Donna Dowland was similarly effectively detained when her husband was
arrested for having no driver's license in his possession. She was delayed in being allowed to
call the bondsman from the jail and she was required to walk to a pay telephone to call the
bondsman. With her were two small children, and she was almost nine months pregnant.
1.65 Plaintiffs allege that officers issuing tickets to the plaintiffs at the I-40 roadblock
strongly suggested that as non-residents of St. Francls County it would be in their best
interest to forfeit their bonds [*116] and not appear to contest the charge at trial.
Defendants dispute this contention.
1.66 [**24] The average traffic flow on Interstate 40 at the scene of this roadblock is
{ } approximately 15,000 vehicles per day in both directions. The roadblock was conducted on
aan one side of the road at a time for 23 hours. Therefore, approximately 7,500 vehicles passed
through the roadblock.
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1.67 Plaintiffs contend that the purported purpose of the roadblock for driver's license and
vehicle registration checks was a pretext to enable the defendants to engage in farreaching
*, searches for criminal evidence by pretextual plain views and pretextual searches without
‘probable cause. Defendants dispute this contention.
1.68 Initially, all cars were stopped to avoid "randomness,” but traffic backups caused the
officers to stop cars in groups allowing others to pass through without being checked. Once
the backup cleared, the officers again stopped all cars.
1.69 Also, defendants instructed criminal investigators and narcotics officers to remain
separated from the license check area of the roadblock. They were to remain at the nearby
rest area in case they were needed. However, they were engaged in searching vehicles at the
roadside,
1.70 The defendants who are employees of the Arkansas Highway [**25] Police are filing a
Motion for Summary Judgment the factual basis of which is the agreed Stipulations of Fact.
Further agreement of these defendants to the judgment Is withheld pending disposition of
that Motion.
II]. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
2.1 The plaintiffs seek permanent injunctive relief against the policies and actions described
in the Amended Complaint. The parties have agreed to the Proposed Findings of Fact as the
basic facts involved in this controversy. The parties have also agreed that the legality of other
specific searches and seizures need not be proved in light of this method of resolution of the
case.
A. Preliminary Matters
1. Jurisdiction
2.2 The court has jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter of this action under 42
Jurisdiction is not contested.
B. Roadblocks as a Seizure
2.3 A stop of a vehicle at a roadblock conducted for any purpose, including driver's license
and vehicle registration checks, is a seizure under the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments to
the United States Constitution. See Delaware v. Prouse, 440 U.S. 648, 653, [**26] 591,
Ed, 2d 660, 99 S. Ct. 1391 (1979): United States v, Martinez-Fuerte, 428 U.S. 543, 556-58,
340, 101 S, Ct. 2587 (1981); Brown v. Texas, 443 U.S. 47, 50, 61. L. Ed, 2d 357, 99 S. Ct.
2637 (1979); Dunaway v. New York, 442 U.S, 200, 209-10, 60 L. Ed, 2d 824, 99S. Ct, 2248
Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 16, 20 L. Ed. 2d 889, 88 S, Ct. 1868 (1968) ("It is quite plain that the
Fourth Amendment governs 'seizures' of the person which do not eventuate in a trip to the
station house and prosecution for crime -- ‘arrests’ in the traditional terminology. It must be
recognized that whenever a police officer accosts an individual [**27] and restrains his
: freedom to walk away, he has ‘seized’ that person.")
C. License and Registration Check Roadbiock
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2.4 This case involves ostensible driver's license and vehicle registration checks on an
7 [*117] interstate highway. Plaintiffs do not concede that such roadblock stops are
o . reasonable under the Fourth Amendment because of the inherent problems in such
roadblocks as demonstrated by the facts of this case. The parties agree that certain
safeguards are required in the conduct of such roadblocks.
2.5 The law has recognized driver's license and registration check roadblocks for quite some
time. Apparently, the first reported decision is City of Miami v. Aronoviiz, 114 So.2d 784 (Fla.
1959), a civil action by a motorist to enjoin a local practice of conducting driver's license
check roadblocks after he was stopped at one. He was not arrested for anything, and he was
not subjected to any search. State statutes provided that motorists had to produce their
licenses on demand. The Florida Supreme Court, in effect, engaged In a balancing analysis
and held that there was an important purpose in conducting driver's license checks, but the
court did not explain [**28] how the individual's interest was affected by the procedure.
The court recognized a developing line of cases prohibiting stops for driver's license checks
Court held that vehicle searches at a roadblock were still governed by the Carro// doctrine. Id.
at_788, citing Carroll v. United States, 267 U.S, 132, 69 L. Ed, 543, 45 S. Ct, 280 (1925).
2.6 Three years later, the Kentucky Court of Appeals sustained a traffic conviction for driving
without a license at a roadblock stop in Commonwealth v. Mitchell, 355 S\W.2d 686 (Ky.
ostensible or pretended purpose stated when in reality [the roadblock] is actuated by an
ulterior motive not related to the licensing requirement, or is done as a pretext or as a
subterfuge for circumventing the [probable cause requirement]." Jd, at 687 (bracketed
material added).
/ Super, 78, 226 A.2d 760 (1967): People v. Andrews, 173 Colo. 510, 484 [**29]_ P.2d 1207
(Colo, 1971) (lack of registration led to arrest for stolen car); State v. Swift, 232 Ga. 535,
207 S.E.2d 459 (1974) (marijuana seen in plain view); Myricks v. United States, 370 F.2d
901 (5th Cir. 1967), cert. denied 386 _U.S, 1015, 18 L, Ed. 2d 474, 87 S. Ct, 1366; United
832, 102 S, Ct, 130, 70 L. Ed. 2d 110.
2.8 The United States Supreme Court has decided some immigration roadblock cases which
are pertinent to this case. The most notable is United States y. Martinez-Fuerte, 428 U.S,
point on Interstate 5 at San Clemente, California. The Court upheld the roadblock because
(1) the interference with traffic was minimal, (2) immigration roadblocks have a limited
purpose conducted in a "regularized manner” involving "less discretionary enforcement
activity" and (3) the location of such roadblocks "is not chosen by the officers in the field, but
by officials responsible for making overall [**30] decisions as to the most effective
license roadblocks may be proper due to their longstanding acceptance in traffic law
enforcement. Jd. at 560 n, 14.
Supreme Court held that random stops for driver's license checks were unreasonable under
the Fourth Amendment. In dicta the Court suggested that a roadblock might be constitutional
because it involves less discretion,
least articulable and reasonable suspicion that a motorist is unlicensed or that an
automobile is not registered, or that either the vehicle or an occupant is
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otherwise subject to seizure for violation of law, [*118] stopping an automobile
and detaining the driver in order to check his driver's license and the registration
‘ of the automobile are unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment. This holding
does not preclude the State of Delaware or other States from developing methods
for spot checks that involve less intrusion or that do not [**31] involve the
unconstrained exercise of discretion. Questioning of all oncoming traffic at
roadblock-type stops is one possible alternative. We hold only that persons in
automobiles on public roadways may not for that reason alone have their travel
and privacy interfered with at the unbridled discretion of police officers. (footnote
omitted)
held that a roadblock for drunk drivers violated the Fourth Amendment because its location
was not a management decision as required by United States v. Martinez-Fuerte, supra. It
disclaimed deciding the legality of driver's license roadblocks, but its rationale suggests that
Martinez-Fuerte applies to al! roadblocks except those set up under exigent circumstances
such as roadblocks to stop fleeing felons or around crime scenes. A New Jersey Superior
Super. 575, 427 A.2d 131 (1980), relying on its productivity in drunk driving arrests, a policy
to only set them up at night when the taverns close, and the fact the police department
followed internal [**32] rules to eliminate discretion in the officer in the field.
2.11 The only driver's license check roadblock case on an interstate highway the parties could
find is United States v. Prichard, supra. That case involved a stop of a vehicle which caused
the officers to become suspicious the vehicle was stolen. Consent was sought and obtained,
and a search revealed 86 pounds of cocaine valued at $20,000,000. The case says very littie
about what went on at the roadblock even though there was a five-day evidentiary hearing.
’ Prichard did not involve traffic back-ups or allegations of pretextual and wholesale illegal
' searches. To that extent, Prichard is distinguishable from this case. Prichard did not decide
the question of reasonableness per se of an interstate highway driver's roadblock.
2.142 The location of the roadblock Is a management decision. The officers in the field cannot
make the decision, but they may participate in it. United States v. Martinez-Fuerte, 428 U.S.
543, 556-58, 49 L. Ed. 2d 1116, 96 S. Ct. 3074 (1975): State v. Olgaard, 248 N.W.2d 392
(S.D. 1976); State v. Coccomo, 177 N.J. Super. 575, 427 A.2d 131 (1980).
2.13 The enforcement needs [**33] of this timited purpose for the roadblock in the area
and the staffing and safety needs for that roadblock shall be the only criteria entering into
the decision of location, duration, and magnitude of the roadblock. Martinez-Fuerte, supra.
Criminal enforcement needs have no place in determining whether, where, when, or how to
conduct such a roadblock.
2.14 When conducting such a roadblock, officers whose primary or major duties are non-
traffic enforcement (e.g., narcotics, stolen vehicle, criminal! investigation, etc.) may not be
immediately present at the actual roadblock. If their presence is required they may be called
in to perform their duty once probable or reasonable cause is established by the officers
validly conducting the roadbiock. Their presence at the actual roadblock indicates the
roadblock may be pretextual and could easily lead to abuse.
D. General Issues of Vehicle Searches
1. Ordering Occupants From Vehicles at Such Roadblocks
i | 2,15 Because of the limited nature of a driver's license and registration roadblock stop, the
officers may not order or request a driver or occupant of a vehicle to get out of the vehicle
unless there is some independent [**34] legal justification to warrant it; f£e., legal
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{ |
justification exists when there are facts which lead the officers to suspect [*119] thata
crime has been or is about to be committed, or that the person presents some danger to the
officer or others, or a stop and frisk is justified.
2.16 In Pennsylvania v. Mimms, 434 U.S. 106, 54.L. Ed. 2d 331, 98S. Ct. 330 (1977), the
Supreme Court stated that, on balance, it is reasonable under the Fourth Amendment for an
officer to order a motorist lawfully subjected to a traffic stop from his vehicle for three
reasons. First, traffic stops can tead to police shootings as the officer walks up from behind
standing next to the detained car. Id, at 111. Finally, since the vehicle was lawfully detained
with probable cause to believe a traffic offense occurred, ordering the driver from the vehicle
is a de minimus intrusion, Id.
2. Burden of Justifying Warrantless Searches
72S. Ct, 93 (1951),
2.18 The burden is on the State to show legal justification for it; e.g., vehicle exception,
search incident, consent, plain view, or whatever. United States v. Matlock, 415 U.S. 164,
174, 39 L. Ed. 2d 242, 94S. Ct. 988 (1974); Vale v. Louisiana, 399 U.S, 30, 34, 26 L. Ed. 2d
Giason v. State, 272 Ark. 28, 611 S.W.2d 752 (1981): Smith v, State, 265 Ark. 104, 576
[**36] S.W.2d 957 (1979): Moore v. State, 265 Ark. 20, 576 S.W.2d 211 (1979): Rowland
Rock, 248 Ark. 96, 449 S.W,2d 933 (1970).
3. Plain View Searches
2.19 A valid, non-pretextual roadblock may support a plain view of the readily-visible interior
2.20 A roadblock cannot, however, be constitutionally conducted for the purpose of
conducting a plain view because such a purported "plain view" lacks the inadvertence and
prior valid intrusion requirements of the plain view doctrine. See Coolidge v. New Hampshire,
403 U.S. 443, 466-68, 469-71, 91S. Ct. 2022, 2038-39, 2040, 29 L, Ed, 2d 564 (1971), and
cases cited in para. 2.7-2.9, supra.
2.21 As a general rule, a "drug dog” cannot be used Indiscriminately without any justification
4, Justification and Scope of Vehicle Searches
2.22. Complete searches of vehicles, trunks, and luggage occurred at the roadblock in
Silverman's and Somers' cases. The search was based on the officer allegedly seeing
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marijuana seeds on the floorboard or a "roach," a marijuana cigarette butt, in the vehicle
ashtray.
[*120] 2.23. A vehicle is not subject to search at will. “The Carro// doctrine does not
declare a field day for the police in searching automobiles. Automobile or no automobile,
132, 69 L. Ed. 543, 45 S. Ct. 280 (1925),
2.24 "[A] search which is reasonable at its inception may violate the Fourth Amendment by
virtue of its intolerable intensity and scope .... The scope of a search must be 'strictly tied
consent is always required for a vehicle search.
2.25 Once a valid stop occurs, justification for a greater intrusion may arise. The officer may
then gain cause to conduct a stop and frisk or probable cause for a search of the interior
under the automobile exception or the search Incident doctrine. The result of that intrusion
may give probable cause to believe criminal evidence is in the trunk. Only then can a search
of the trunk be initlated. United States v. Ross, 456 U.S. 798, 102 S, Ct. 2157, 2171-72, 72
L. Ed. 2d 572 (1982),
2.26 Finding marijuana seeds, a pipe with marijuana residue in it, a "roachclip,” or a few
“roaches” in the passenger compartment does not, without more, give probable cause to
believe that marijuana or other drugs are being transported in the trunk. It only provides
probable cause to believe that smal! amounts of marijuana for persona! use may be found in
the vicinity of what was found, except that a "roachclip" is not probable cause to believe any
/ 557,128 Cal. Rptr. 641, 547 P.2d 417, 427 (1976) (stop [**39] because driver appeared
intoxicated; 12 marijuana seeds found; search incident of interior valid but search of trunk
vy, Gregg, 43 Cal. App. 3d 137, 117 Cal. Rptr. 496, 499-500 (1974) (marijuana seeds, pipe
with marijuana in it, and smell of freshly burning marijuana not probable cause to search
trunk; court notes that possession of substantia! quantity of marijuana in passenger
compartment may create probable cause to believe more Js in the trunk); Gill v. State, 625
394 A.2d_ 365 (1978); Commonwealth v, Long, 489 Pa. 369, 414 A.2d 113 (1980): Baffey v.
compartment invalid). See a/so State v, Fink/ea, 313 So.2d 224 (La. 1975) (marijuana seeds
on floor seen at night not a possible plain view; search [**40] invalid). In Wimberly, supra,
that the amounts seen were all consistent with personal usage. Wimberly also noted that the
odor of marijuana emanating from the trunk would be probable cause to believe much more
(1975), Therefore, as a general rule, probable cause to search the trunk should not arise until
the inference level of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance were passed by
what was found in the passenger compartment, which, in Arkansas in the case of marijuana,
is one ounce. Ark. Stat. Ann. § 82-2617(d) (Supp. 1981). Other things, of course, may
provide probable cause for a search of the trunk.
5. Initiation of Consent Searches
Ne 2.27 Consent obtained at a driver's license check roadblock, as any other consent, Is
presumptively involuntary, and valid consent must be proved by clear and convincing
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has a heavy burden because of the inherently coercive circumstances [**41] involved ina
roadblock of this sort. Compare Schneckioth v. Bustamonte, 412 U.S, 218, 229, 36 L. Ed. 2d
scrutiny would sanction the possibility of official coercion.").
2.28 The Fourth Amendment requires that the police cannot request a consent to search
without at least a reasonable or articulable suspicion to believe that there Is contraband or
criminal evidence where the police propose to look. See Hall, Search and Seizure § 4.5, at
ask him his identification on bare suspicion; State's secondary argument of consent rejected
as acquiescence to a claim of authority. "To sum up, if the officer's conduct in this case is
proper, then any law enforcement officer may stop a citizen at any time, without reasonable
grounds for suspicion, request identification, and arrest and search the citizen if his identity
uncovers an outstanding felony warrant. We need not sift through the Supreme Court's
decisions [**42] to find that tribunal's probable answer to the question presented by this
case. Our own Rules of Criminal Procedure unmistakably require that the evidence seized in
this case be suppressed").
6. The DEA Profile Is Not Reasonable Suspicion or Probable Cause
2.29 Use of the DEA drug courier profile to conduct a search of a rental truck or trailer or any
vehicle, without more, violates the Fourth Amendment. See Re/d v. Georgia, 448 U.S, 438,
65 L. Ed. 2d 890, 100 S, Ct. 2752 (1980); United States v. McCaleb, 552 F.2d 717 (6th Cir.
1977).
E. Overal/ Considerations
' 2,30 The parties agree and the court finds that the Arkansas State Police made a good faith
effort to plan this roadblock, but that the problems which developed were not adequately
anticipated. It was proper (assuming an interstate highway roadblock is proper) that the
roadblock was planned for in advance, that some legal advice was sought, that it was a top
management decision, that manpower and safety needs were considered, that the location
was based on making the roadblock easier and safer to conduct (/.e., near a rest area), that
an initial effort was made to stop all vehicles, that officers [**43] with specialized duties
such as criminal investigators and narcotics and others would stay in the rest area, that the
Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department was enlisted to provide traffic control
devices, and that officers were briefed as to their duties. It is obvious this roadblock was not
a spur-of-the-moment decision by an officer in the field.
2.31 The plan was followed when the roadblock began.
2.32 The defendant's contention that criminal arrests were anticipated from the roadblock
only states the obvious fact that this roadblock was going to generate many non-traffic
criminal arrests. On the other hand, plaintiffs contend that this roadblock, based on the
statements made in Plaintiffs’ Exhibits A and B and C, was a pretext to conduct searches for
criminal evidence without probable cause and to see what was moving down the interstate.
their general inspection powers as a pretext for stopping motorists for the purpose of
inquiring about their business on the public highways.").
2.33 The Arkansas investigative detention law, passed in 1969 in response to Terry v, Ohio
[**44]_ , 392 U.S. 1, 20 L, Ed. 2d 889, 88 S. Ct. 1868 (1968), imposes far more stringent
|} safeguards on a stop of a suspected felon or misdemeanant or witness to crime than does the
aa law of roadblocks. See Ark. Stat. Ann. §§ 43-429 -- 43-436 (Repl. 1976); compare Ark. R.
Crim. P. 3.1-3.5 on stop and frisk which may or may not supersede that statute. Arkansas
law puts a fifteen minute time limit on a stop and frisk detention.
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j Service: LEXSEE®
Citation: 1982 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 17337
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Date/Time: Thursday, May 10, 2001 - 3:49 PM EDT
Copyright © 2001 LEXIS-NEXIS Group. All rights reserved.
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