On Point: 2. Traffic stops

State v. Erik Howard Pantle, 2025AP2003-CR, 10/14/26, District II (recommended for publication); case activity

In a decision recommended for publication, COA reiterates that a dog sniff is not a search and that police do not unreasonably prolong a traffic stop by running a record check on the passengers in the car.

State v. Alan Joseph Lecher, 2026AP90-CR, 10/7/26, District II (ineligible for publication); case activity

COA affirms circuit court’s denial of Lecher’s motion to suppress law enforcement’s discovery of alprazolam tablets after a warrantless search, concluding that probable cause existed to search Lecher’s person.

State v. Paula Andrea Champion, 2025AP802, 8/18/26, District I (ineligible for publication); case activity

COA affirms circuit court’s denial of Paula Champion’s motion to suppress in appeal of PAC 1st judgment.

Village of Grafton v. Blake S. Barnes, 2026AP160, 7/15/26, District II (ineligible for publication); case activity

The COA affirmed the circuit court’s order denying the defendant’s motion to suppress the fruits of his stop and arrest for speeding and operating while intoxicated where the defendant drove 48 miles per hour on a road posted for 25 miles per hour at 12:30 a.m., the officer smelled alcohol in the vehicle, the defendant exhibited glassy eyes, admitted he drank alcohol that night, and failed field sobriety tests.

State v. Michael P. Bundy, 2025AP1072, 6/25/26, District IV (not eligible for publication); case activity

The COA affirmed the circuit court’s order suppressing the fruits of a traffic stop because an officer’s mistake of law regarding the driver’s suspected violation of the window tinting regulation did not provide reasonable suspicion to stop the vehicle.

State v. Ryan Alan Stenner, 2025AP503-CR, 5/7/26, District IV (ineligible for publication); case activity

COA applies general reasonable suspicion principles to reverse the circuit court’s order granting suppression for a traffic stop based on overly dark window tint. It holds that the circuit court applied the wrong standard, the officer’s testimony was sufficiently connected to his training, and the administrative code related to window tint is valid and enforceable.

State of Wisconsin v. Jonathan G. Berbaum, 2025AP1380-CR, 2/25/26, District II (ineligible for publication); case activity

The COA affirmed the circuit court’s order denying the defendant’s motion to suppress the fruits of a traffic stop, which included evidence that led to his conviction for operating a vehicle while intoxicated as a third offense.  The COA found that a witness’s report that a vehicle hit a barrier, combined with the defendant’s erratic driving, provided reasonable suspicion to suspect the driver was operating while intoxicated.

State of Wisconsin v. Alsherrife Mire, 2024AP2481-CR, 2/4/26, District II (recommended for publication); case activity

In a decision recommended for publication, the COA affirmed the circuit court’s order denying the defendant’s motion to suppress the fruits of his allegedly unlawfully extended traffic stop because evidence of his flight from police was not derived from the stop.

State v. Troy A. Wry, 2023AP561, 2/3/26, District III (ineligible for publication); case activity

Wry appeals his conviction for OWI 3rd, arguing the circuit court erred by denying his motion to suppress evidence because law enforcement lacked reasonable suspicion that Wry had committed, or was committing, an offense sufficient to conduct an investigatory stop of his vehicle. COA affirms.

State v. Jacobe Michael Gimmel, 2025AP1037 & 2025AP1537, 1/29/26, District IV (ineligible for publication); case activity

Gimmel appeals his conviction for OWI 2nd and the revocation of his driver’s license for refusing a chemical test. The sole issue in the consolidated appeal is whether the officer who stopped Gimmel had reasonable suspicion to do so. COA affirms, concluding the officer had reasonable suspicion that Gimmel had violated a local noise ordinance.