State v. Simpson
The Sixth DCA reversed a trial court's suppression order in a case where officers smelled fresh cannabis during a valid traffic stop conducted in a well-known high-crime narcotics area. The court held that this was not a 'smell alone' case because the officers combined the smell of cannabis with extensive, specific experience patrolling that particular high-crime area for narcotics activity, which together established probable cause under the automobile exception.
Key facts
- State sought to uphold a warrantless vehicle search conducted during a traffic stop in a high-crime narcotics area where officers detected the smell of fresh cannabis.
- Trial court suppressed the evidence from the vehicle search, and State appealed to the Sixth District Court of Appeal.
- +2 more key facts with a free trial
Why it matters
This decision is useful for practitioners litigating vehicle search suppression issues post-hemp-legalization, as it illustrates how courts can find probable cause based on cannabis odor plus officer testimony about… — full analysis with a trial
🔒 Read the full opinion, holding & search the library
The full opinion PDF, the rules the court applied, our significance analysis, the background facts, and full-text search across every tracked Florida decision are available to members. Start a free 30-day trial — no credit card.
Not ready to sign up? Get the free Friday digest — the week's key Florida decisions by email, no login required.
Florida Court Tracker provides summaries of publicly available court opinions for informational and research purposes only. This is not legal advice and does not create an attorney–client relationship. Always verify holdings against the official opinion.