One 1958 Plymouth Sedan v. Pennsylvania
Encyclopedia
One 1958 Plymouth Sedan v. Pennsylvania was a Supreme Court of the United States
case handed down in 1965. The Court ruled that civil forfeiture could not apply where the evidence
used to invoke the forfeiture was obtained illegally.
Some police officers followed the suspect vehicle, and pulled over the car because it was "riding low
." Without a warrant
, they searched the trunk and found untaxed
liquor. The car was seized, and the state also attempted to confiscate the automobile in question as a civil penalty. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Fourth Amendment's
protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, held applicable to the states by the Fourteenth Amendment
, applies to civil actions by the states as well as criminal ones, noting that one could be subject to an even worse penalty in a civil proceeding, where the value of the items being forfeited might be more than the maximum possible fine in a criminal case.
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
case handed down in 1965. The Court ruled that civil forfeiture could not apply where the evidence
Evidence (law)
The law of evidence encompasses the rules and legal principles that govern the proof of facts in a legal proceeding. These rules determine what evidence can be considered by the trier of fact in reaching its decision and, sometimes, the weight that may be given to that evidence...
used to invoke the forfeiture was obtained illegally.
Some police officers followed the suspect vehicle, and pulled over the car because it was "riding low
Lowrider
]A lowrider is a style of car originated by Chicano communities that sits lower to the ground than most other cars. Many lowriders have their suspension systems modified so that their ride can change height at the flip of a switch...
." Without a warrant
Search warrant
A search warrant is a court order issued by a Magistrate, judge or Supreme Court Official that authorizes law enforcement officers to conduct a search of a person or location for evidence of a crime and to confiscate evidence if it is found....
, they searched the trunk and found untaxed
Tax avoidance and tax evasion
Tax noncompliance describes a range of activities that are unfavorable to a state's tax system. These include tax avoidance, which refers to reducing taxes by legal means, and tax evasion which refers to the criminal non-payment of tax liabilities....
liquor. The car was seized, and the state also attempted to confiscate the automobile in question as a civil penalty. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Fourth Amendment's
Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the Bill of Rights which guards against unreasonable searches and seizures, along with requiring any warrant to be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause...
protection against unreasonable searches and seizures, held applicable to the states by the Fourteenth Amendment
Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was adopted on July 9, 1868, as one of the Reconstruction Amendments.Its Citizenship Clause provides a broad definition of citizenship that overruled the Dred Scott v...
, applies to civil actions by the states as well as criminal ones, noting that one could be subject to an even worse penalty in a civil proceeding, where the value of the items being forfeited might be more than the maximum possible fine in a criminal case.