Police can stop cars for driving too slowly, court rules

NASHVILLE (AP) ‘ The state Supreme Court has ruled that police can stop a vehicle for driving too slowly.
Chattanooga police arrested three people for possession of cocaine and marijuana with intent to sell or deliver after they were pulled over in 2005 for driving 20 mph in a 35 mph zone.
The trial court judge in Hamilton County had earlier ruled the stop and subsequent search were illegal because the car didn’t come to a complete stop and impede traffic.
The state argued the slow-moving vehicle did impede traffic because other cars had to brake quickly and move into another lane to avoid the car.
In an unanimous ruling filed Monday, the Tennessee Supreme Court sided with the state. It reversed the lower court’s ruling and sent the drug case back for a new hearing.