The Supreme Court revisited the “hot pursuit” policy Wednesday, resulting in a ruling that a fleeing misdemeanor does not always qualify as an “exigent circumstance.” “Lange v. California, stems from a California State Highway Patrolman’s attempt to stop driver Lange. At 10:20pm, the officer heard loud music coming from Lange’s vehicle, after honking without reason for 4-5 times, which violates California law. The officer testified that “the vehicle failed to yield”, and so he “followed it into a driveway”. The vehicle went into an attached garage. As the garage door started to close, the officer exited his vehicle and stuck his foot in front of the sensor to send the garage door back up. Mr. Lange was still in his vehicle with the driver’s side door open when the officer entered the garage. While inside the garage, the officer asked Mr. Lange if he had noticed the officer. Mr. Lange replied that he did not. The officer asked Mr. Lange for his license and registration. He also asked Mr. Lange why he was playing his music so loudly and how much he had had to drink. Eventually, the officer and Mr. Lange moved outside the garage, where the officer arrested Mr. Lange for driving under the influence. Lange’s blood-alcohol level was later determined to be 0.245%, more than three times the legal limit.”
Share this post
Supreme Court Limits Police in Hot Pursuit
Share this post
The Supreme Court revisited the “hot pursuit” policy Wednesday, resulting in a ruling that a fleeing misdemeanor does not always qualify as an “exigent circumstance.” “Lange v. California, stems from a California State Highway Patrolman’s attempt to stop driver Lange. At 10:20pm, the officer heard loud music coming from Lange’s vehicle, after honking without reason for 4-5 times, which violates California law. The officer testified that “the vehicle failed to yield”, and so he “followed it into a driveway”. The vehicle went into an attached garage. As the garage door started to close, the officer exited his vehicle and stuck his foot in front of the sensor to send the garage door back up. Mr. Lange was still in his vehicle with the driver’s side door open when the officer entered the garage. While inside the garage, the officer asked Mr. Lange if he had noticed the officer. Mr. Lange replied that he did not. The officer asked Mr. Lange for his license and registration. He also asked Mr. Lange why he was playing his music so loudly and how much he had had to drink. Eventually, the officer and Mr. Lange moved outside the garage, where the officer arrested Mr. Lange for driving under the influence. Lange’s blood-alcohol level was later determined to be 0.245%, more than three times the legal limit.”