FourthAmendment CriminalProcedure JusticiabilityDoctri
Whether the Pennsylvania Supreme Court erred in finding that Adams was subjected to an unreasonable seizure in violation of the 4th Amendment
QUESTION PRESENTED The issue in this case is based upon an encounter between Adams and an officer that occurred at approximately 3:00 a.m. while Adams was sitting in his parked car in a dimly lit area behind two closed businesses. Prior to that encounter, the officer watched Adams drive his car behind two closed businesses and, after Adams failed to reemerge, the officer drove his patrol vehicle behind the businesses, parked, and approached Adams’ parked vehicle on foot to inquire about why Adams was parked behind two closed businesses at that early hour. At some point during the encounter, the officer noticed signs of impairment and Adams was arrested for driving under the influence. The focus of this petition is the time before the officer noticed Adams’ impairment and the issues in the petition concern whether Adams was unreasonably seized and whether the officer had reasonable suspicion. The question presented is whether’ the Pennsylvania Supreme Court erred in finding that Adams was subjected to an unreasonable seizure in violation of the 4th Amendment to the United States Constitution? i