Search of Passengers

Defendant was a passenger in a car stopped for speeding. The police officer testified that he immediately detected a strong odor of cannabis emanating from the vehicle when the driver lowered her window. Mr. Williams, the right front passenger was patted down. He was then handcuffed when he refused the officer’s request to remove his shoes. The officer, after discovering six pink pills in the car and a stun gun,  removed Williams’ shoes and discovered 43 grams of cannabis. The appellate court ruled that the “strong odor of cannabis” that the officer detected coming from the interior of the vehicle in which defendant was a passenger was sufficient to implicate defendant and make the search of his person proper. People v. Williams, (2013) No. 4-11-0857. see People v. Stout, 106 Ill. 2d 77 police  who can recognize the scent of cannabis may perform a lawful search of a car stopped on the road. People v. Boyd 298 Ill.App.3d 1118 Odor of burnig cannabis justifies search of passenger.