Ames, Story County, Iowa. A Story County judge ruled that changing lanes without using turn signal was not grounds to stop defendant's vehicle when no traffic was affected by the lane change. State also attempted to argue that the inoperable brake light discovered by watching the video three months later should justify the stop even though the officer honestly admitted that she did not observe the inoperable light prior to the stop. The Judge ruled that a stop of a vehicle is legal or illegal based upon the information the officer had at the time of the stop not information acquired later. Vehicle stop was declared illegal and all evidence obtained as a result was suppressed. Operating While Intoxicated charge will be dismissed and driving privileges reinstated.
