FEBRUARY 10, 2014
Today, the Massachusetts Appeals Court issued its decision in Commonwealth v. Bernard, affirming the decision of a Lawrence District Court judge to suppress evidence obtained from the defendant’s vehicle when a Massachusetts State Trooper pulled the defendant’s vehicle over after observing a plastic cover on the vehicle’s rear license plate. The decision resulted in the suppression of statements and evidence supporting firearm charges against the defendant.
In June 2009, the trooper observed the defendant operating a vehicle on Route 495 southbound. The trooper, who was traveling in the first lane, allegedly was unable to see the license plate of the defendant’s vehicle, which he observed from an angle as the defendant’s vehicle traveled in the third lane. The license plate was covered with a clear, but tinted, plastic cover. For this reason only, the trooper pulled up behind the defendant’s vehicle and activated his cruiser lights to pull the defendant over. The trooper observed no other traffic violations.
Posted by Parker Scheer LLP | Permalink | Email This Post
Posted In: Appeals Court , Criminal Activity , Criminal Allegations , Criminal Defense , False Charges , Guns
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