[Download] "North Carolina v. Simmons" by Court of Appeals of North Carolina No. 708SC666 # Book PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: North Carolina v. Simmons
- Author : Court of Appeals of North Carolina No. 708SC666
- Release Date : January 30, 1970
- Genre: Law,Books,Professional & Technical,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 55 KB
Description
By the defendant's first assignment of error, he contends that it was error for the court to allow testimony concerning, and the introduction of, non-tax paid whiskey obtained without a search warrant over the defendant appellant's objection and motion to suppress. In State v. Ferguson, 238 N.C. 656, 78 S.E.2d 911 (1953), two ABC officers stopped a car on a public highway. The officers walked back to the car and, looking in, saw on the floorboard back of the front seat a cardboard box containing 12 half gallon fruit jars of white whiskey, upon which there were no revenue stamps of the state or federal government. The officers testified that they were stopping cars in order to check driver's licenses. The Court said, quoting from G.S. 18-6, ""that nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize any officer to search any automobile or other vehicle or baggage of any person without a search warrant duly issued, except where the officer sees or has absolute personal knowledge that there is intoxicating liquor in such vehicle or baggage."" The Court further stated that the officer ""saw and had absolute personal knowledge that there was intoxicating liquor in the automobile,"" and that it necessarily followed that the defendant's exception based on the court's refusal to suppress the evidence was overruled. When the incriminating article is in plain view of the officers . . . no search is necessary and the constitutional guaranty does not apply."" State v. Colson, 1 N.C. App. 339, 161 S.E.2d 637 (1968). ""What the officers saw through the windows of the car by the aid of a flashlight without opening the doors of the car to search were competent in evidence."" State v. Craddock, 272 N.C. 160, 158 S.E.2d 25 (1967). ""Where no search is required, the constitutional guaranty is not applicable. The guaranty applies only in those instances where the seizure is assisted by a necessary search. It does not prohibit a seizure without a warrant where there is no need of a search, and where the contraband subject matter is fully disclosed and open to the eye and hand."" State v. Kinley, 270 N.C. 296, 154 S.E.2d 95 (1967).