A motor vehicle exit order after a routine traffic stop may be justified based on officer safety concerns. If you are charged with a drug crime after the police discover illegal narcotics on your person from a protective search, it is important to know what constitutes officer safety concerns. In the recent Appeals Court case of Commonwealth v. Meneide, the Mass. Appeals Court noted that:
- The act of lfiting oneself off the driver’s seat (concealment); along with
- A routine auto stop; equals
- Justification for an exit order and protective search for officer safety.
If you are facing drug charges after being ordered out of a motor vehicle, it is important to hire a drug crime attorney who will review the constitutional justification for the frisk. Contact Attorney Shane W. Surrette at (774) 364-4605 or at [email protected]today.
