On Point: 2. Traffic stops

State v. Terrence T. Boyd, 2012 WI App 39 (recommended for publication); for Boyd: Andrea Taylor Cornwall, SPD, Milwaukee Appellate; case activity

Because Boyd’s car was registered in a state (Illinois) that issues two plates, car could be stopped for failing to display a plate on the front, in violation of § 341.15(1) (“[w]henever 2 registration plates are issued for a vehicle, one plate shall be attached to the front and one to the rear of the vehicle.”).

on review of published opinion; for Anagnos: Barry S. Cohen; case activity; prior post

Traffic Stop – Reasonable Suspicion – OWI Refusal Hearing Challenge to Arrest

Issues (composed by On Point): 

1. Whether the officer could lawfully stop Anagnos’ vehicle for failing to use a turn signal where neither traffic nor pedestrians were present, § 346.34(1)(b).

2. Whether the officer had reasonable suspicion to stop Anagnos’

State v. Gary A. Senger, 2011AP1950-CR, District 2, 1/18/12

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Senger: Robert C. Raymond; case activity

Applying the test described in State v. Betow, 226 Wis. 2d 90, 94-95, 593 N.W.2d 499 (Ct. App. 1999) for extending a traffic stop, the court concludes that the officer had reasonable suspicion to administer FSTs following a stop for driving with a revoked license.

State v. Brian S. Wold, 2011AP1518-CR, District 2, 12/14/11

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Wold: Patrick A. Dewane, Jr.; case activity

Report from a named, citizen informant that a particular vehicle was “driving all over the roadway” was sufficiently reliable to support traffic stop for OWI, even though after spotting the vehicle, the officer followed it for a mile without himself observing any traffic violations. 

State v. John R. Nelson, 2011AP125-CR, District 2, 12/7/11

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Nelson: John A. Nelson; case activity

The officer’s observation that Nelson’s vehicle intruded “somewhat into the intersection” before stopping provided reasonable suspicion for a stop-sign violation, § 346.46(1). The stop wasn’t unnecessarily prolonged by summoning a drug dog while the officer ran record checks and issued a warning ticket.

State v. Gustavo E. Lopez, 2011AP1037-CR, District 2, 11/23/11

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Lopez: Walter Arthur Piel, Jr.; case activity

¶8        While the record reveals that Lopez is correct in stating that the court took video evidence from the roadside stop into consideration when making the finding of probable cause, we disagree that this was in any way not allowed. When determining the facts available to the officer to formulate probable cause,

City of Sheboygan v. Kathy L. Reindl-Knaak, 2011AP1090, District 2, 11/2/11

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Reindl-Knaal: Casey J. Hoff; case activity

¶7        The parties do not dispute that Reindl-Knaak’s vehicle had an expired front license plate, that the temporary plate affixed to the rear of the vehicle was later determined to be valid, and that Jaeger had probable cause to continue Reindl-Knaak’s detention based on the odor of alcohol and her “slow” speech.  

State v. Steven C. Cushman, 2011AP957, District 4, 10/20/11

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Cushman: John Smerlinksi; case activity

Probable cause to believe Cushman wasn’t wearing seat belt supported stop of his vehicle.

¶8        Wisconsin Stat. § 347.48 (2m)(gm) mandates seat belt use when operating a motor vehicle equipped with seat belts.[3]  In 2009, this statute was amended to remove language that had previously prohibited a law enforcement officer from stopping a vehicle based solely on the failure to wear a seat belt.  

State v. Jon Paul A. Fernandez, 2010AP1394-CR, District 2, 10/12/11

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Fernandez: Jefren E. Olsen, SPD, Madison Appellate; case activity

Concededly lawful traffic stop (operating without headlights) wasn’t unreasonably prolonged by warrant checks, arrest of passenger on warrant for unpaid forfeiture, and then search of car incident to that arrest, before the traffic ticket was issued, ¶11 (“Absent any indication of unreasonable delay,

State v. Daniel R. Doyle, 2010AP2466-CR, District 4, 9/22/11

court of appeals decision (1-judge, not for publication); for Doyle: John C. Orth; case activity

Transport of drunk driving suspect 3-4 miles to local police station for purpose of administering field sobriety tests didn’t covert Terry stop into arrest, given that extreme, adverse weather conditions rendered impractical such testing at the scene.

¶11      Terry is codified in Wis.