Mason v. Commonwealth 05/05/2024

Mason v. Commonwealth 05/05/2024 In this case, there is an appeal challenging the circuit court’s refusal to suppress drug-related evidence seized after a traffic stop. The Judges of the Supreme Court of Virginia ruled that the objective facts and circumstances presented by the Commonwealth of Virginia were sufficient to create a reasonable suspicion that a violation of Code § 46.2-1054, relating to objects suspended in a vehicle so as to obstruct the driver’s clear view of the roadway was occurring. Thus, the police officers were justified in doing an investigatory stop of the vehicle in which the defendant was a passenger. The Defendant’s Fourth Amendment rights were not violated by this traffic stop. The judgment of the Court of Appeals upholding the trial court’s denial of a motion to suppress evidence seized subsequent to the traffic stop, and the ensuing felony convictions, is affirmed.