In Jacksonville Grand Theft Auto Cases, police officers will often stop and search the vehicle involved. The law is well-established that “the driver of a stolen automobile [has] no right to challenge the search of the stolen vehicle because he [does] not have a legitimate expectation of privacy in that vehicle.” Florida v. Singleton, 595 So. 2d 44, 45 (Fla. 1992) (Read Search of a Stolen Car in Jacksonville Vehicle Theft Cases). However, this does not mean that the driver cannot challenge the search or seizure of his person. In Nelson v. State, 578 So. 2d 694 (Fla. 1991), the Florida Supreme Court ruled that the driver had standing to challenge his stop. The Court “recognized the distinction between the seizure of property in which the defendant did not have a possessory interest and the seizure of a person.” Singleton, 595 So. 2d at 45. Therefore, in Jacksonville Grand Theft Auto cases, even if the driver cannot challenge the search of the stolen car, he can attack the initial stop of the car.
If you have been charged with a crime in Jacksonville, Florida or the surrounding areas, it is important to speak with an Jacksonville Criminal Attorney about any stop or search that occurred in your case.