Q: Is it An appropriate citation to receive when a vehicles fog or running light doesn’t work but the headlamp does?
I was pulled over for inoperable headlamp in Louisiana. At the time my headlamps were working and only the lower left running (fog) light was not working Upon inspection the officer stated he smelled weed in the vehicle and requested to search the vehicle which I hesitantly agreed to. The officer found a negligible amount of schedule II Narcotic and an unopened schedule III narcotic In the vehicle and I was arrested and charged with the headlamp outage and two felony counts of possession. I believe I was targeted by local law enforcement in an attempt to find additional illegal activities based on suspicions of either use of or my passengers. Is the headlamp citation appropriate in this situation? If not, could this be considered harassment or targeting? And if the citation is found to be unwarranted, what does that mean for the other charges brought against me?
A: Headlamps can be the pretext for a stop. Hire a criminal attorney.
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