Atwater v. Lago Vista: Difference between revisions

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|court=Supreme Court of the United States
|court=Supreme Court of the United States
|date=April 24, 2001
|date=April 24, 2001
|case_treatment=No
|facts=In 1997, a soccer mom named Atwater was arrested in Texas. She was booked and held in jail for 1 hour for violating the state's seatbelt laws.
|facts=In 1997, a soccer mom named Atwater was arrested in Texas. She was booked and held in jail for 1 hour for violating the state's seatbelt laws.


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|arguments=Atwater argued that because the police officer could have only issued a citation with a fine, her arrest was an unreasonable search and seizure under the 4th Amendment.
|arguments=Atwater argued that because the police officer could have only issued a citation with a fine, her arrest was an unreasonable search and seizure under the 4th Amendment.
|rule=A person can be arrested for a misdemeanor offense in the United States.
|rule=A person can be arrested for a misdemeanor offense in the United States.
|comments=This is the "seatbelt arrest" case.
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Latest revision as of 03:39, July 14, 2023

Atwater v. Lago Vista
Court Supreme Court of the United States
Citation
Date decided April 24, 2001

Facts

In 1997, a soccer mom named Atwater was arrested in Texas. She was booked and held in jail for 1 hour for violating the state's seatbelt laws.

Atwater was pulled over in her pick-up truck. She and her children weren't wearing seatbelts. Additionally, Atwater didn't have her car insurance paper.

Procedural History

Atwater sued the city of Lago Vista, Texas, for violation of her 4th Amendment rights under the US Constitution.

Issues

Atwater was booked and had her mug shot taken. When she returned to the scene of the arrest, she discovered that her car had been impounded and towed.

Arguments

Atwater argued that because the police officer could have only issued a citation with a fine, her arrest was an unreasonable search and seizure under the 4th Amendment.

Rule

A person can be arrested for a misdemeanor offense in the United States.

Comments

This is the "seatbelt arrest" case.