Supreme Court rules on drug-sniffing dogs during traffic stops

Argos is one of four K-9 officers with the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and his specialty is drugs.

Deputy Shaun Moran is his handler. Together, they are frequently called to search for narcotics everywhere from Salinas to King City.

“Argos can smell methamphetamine, marijuana, heroin, cocaine and ecstasy. Those are what he’s trained to alert on,” Moran said.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last week in the case of Rodriguez vs. U.S. that officers can hold a suspect on a traffic stop only during the time it takes to write a ticket. Without probable cause, police can no longer keep a suspect waiting, even the few minutes it might take for a drug-sniffing dog to show up.

Moran said the Sheriff’s Office already requires probable cause when holding a suspect during a traffic stop. But with the recent ruling, he’s concerned that he might getfewer calls from other police departments. That means possibly missing some good finds.

“Maybe an officer would make a stop and think to himself,’I can use a K-9 here,’ but then reference this case, (and) decide ‘I can’t extend this traffic stop so it’s not appropriate,’ and never call for me,” Moran said.

Criminal defense attorney James Newhouse, police work won’t change much.

“They will figure out a way to get around or circumvent anything that they feel harms their ability to investigate what they think is a crime,” Newhouse said.

In his experience, Newhouse said traffic stops don’t turn into a lucky drug bust, the officer usually knows something.

“My guess is that what they’ll do is call ahead, have some cops waiting to make another lawful traffic stop with the dogs nearby,” Newhouse said.