Buena Vista County, Iowa- A GRL Law client was a passenger in a vehicle travelling in Storm Lake, Iowa. The vehicle was pulled over for allegedly not having proper registration. The vehicle did, in fact, have a temporary registration or “paper license plate” affixed to the back window of the vehicle. Regardless, the officer conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle. The officer, upon approaching the vehicle, claimed to smell the odor of marijuana. He ended up searching the vehicle, finding a small quantity of marijuana. GRL Law attorney Grant Gangestad filed a motion to suppress evidence, arguing that the officer’s stop of the vehicle was invalid. After negotiation with the prosecutor, the prosecutor agreed to a deferred prosecution, which resulted in the charges being dismissed against the client.
