Atwater v. Lago Vista
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| 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.
