Opinion
November 29, 1994
Appeal from the Supreme Court, New York County (Alfred H. Kleiman, J.).
The presence of 200 vials and yellow caps in plain view inside the car the police officers stopped for traffic infractions gave the officers probable cause to believe the car contained contraband or evidence of a crime (Coolidge v. New Hampshire, 403 U.S. 443, 465). Under the automobile exception to the search warrant requirement, the officers were thus allowed to search the car and open any containers, which led to the discovery of the cocaine (People v. Belton, 55 N.Y.2d 49, 53-54). The court thus properly denied the motions to suppress.
Concur — Sullivan, J.P., Ellerin, Kupferman and Asch, JJ.