Elements of a fine and obvious local news story:
a). conviction of driver stopped by CMPD overturned by N.C. Supreme Court in a unanimous decision.
b). driver was stopped for making a right turn at a stop sign w/o using his turn signal (!!) when his not signaling would not affect anyone else — which, the high court noted, isn’t illegal in this state
c). driver consented to search, had gun in car, was convicted of two felonies and sentenced to 15 – 18 months.
d). the exclusionary rule requires the gun to be surpressed, as the cop never had probable cause to stop the vehicle.
e). allegations of stop based upon “driving while black”
OK, maybe that would make too good of a news story which raises too many questions — are CMPD cops following the law in pulling people over?, is their training adequate?, are minorities being selectively targeted for enforcement?, why was this case brought to trial?… In any case, the Uptown paper of record hasn’t mentioned the case yet.
