On January 19, 2010 while on patrol on westbound I-70, east of Maryland Route 85 in Frederick County, Maryland, a state trooper saw two people in a Nissan Maxima who were not wearing their seat belts. The officer stopped the car and smelled marijuana. Even though the original stop was just for a seat belt violation, under these circumstances the law allows the officer to search the driver and the passenger for suspected drugs. This is called a search incident to arrest. A search of the passenger uncovered marijuana in his pocket. Next the officer arrested the passenger and then had the right to search the car. A search of the car revealed two pounds of marijuana in two zip lock bags inside a duffle bag. Wear your seat belts.
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