Case Brief: Maryland v. Pringle Maryland v. Pringle, 540 U.S. 366, 124 S. Ct. 795 (2003) Facts: In Baltimore County, a car was stopped by a police officer for speeding in the early morning hour. The car was occupied by three men identified as Donte Partlow (driver/owner), Joseph Pringle (respondent/front-seat passenger), and Otis Smith (back-seat passenger). When the officer asked Partlow for his registration, he opened the glove compartment where the officer observed a large roll of money inside the compartment, later confirmed as $763. The officer asked Partlow for consent to search the vehicle, which he consented. During the search, the officer found five small bags of cocaine in the back-seat armrest. When the three men were asked who had ownership of the drugs and money they all denied. The drugs and money were seized and the three men were arrested but Pringle later admitted that the drugs and money were his. Procedural History: The Baltimore County Officer observed a Nissan Maxima speeding on August 7, 1999, at 3:16 a.m. The officer initiated a traffic stop and observed there were three men in the vehicle. The men were identified as the driver Partlow, and the passengers Pringle, and Smith. The officer asked Partlow for his license and registration. When Partlow opened his glove compartment to get his vehicle registration, the officer observed a large roll of money inside the compartment. He ran Partlow’s information for any wants or warrants and he came back negative for both. …show more content…
525, 545, 805 A. 2d 1016, 1027 (2002). We granted certiorari, 538 U. S. 921 (2003), and now reverse.”