United States v. Steve McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525 (11th Cir. 1993). · Go Syfert
United States v. Steve McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525 (11th Cir. 1993). Cases Citing This Book View Copy Cite
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cited 3× by 3 distinct cases, 2000–2014 · 2 courts · …that society is willing to recognize as reasonable. at p. 527 ✓
107 citation events (76 in the last 25 years) across 37 distinct courts.
Strongest positive: United States v. Paxton (ca7, 2017-02-17)
Treatment trajectory · 1993 → 2026 · click a year to view as-of
1993 2009 2026
Top citers, strongest first. 50 distinct citers. How cited ↗
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) United States v. Paxton (2×) also: Cited as authority (rule)
7th Cir. · 2017 · signal: see, e.g. · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
we find no persuasive distinction between pre-arrest and post-arrest situations in this case
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) United States v. Matthew Webster (2×) also: Cited as authority (rule)
7th Cir. · 2017 · signal: see, e.g. · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
we find no persuasive distinction between prearrest and postarrest situations in this case
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) Gennusa v. Shoar (2×) also: Cited as authority (rule)
M.D. Fla. · 2012 · signal: see · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
hence, the statutory and constitutional test is whether a reasonable or justifiable expectation of privacy exists
discussed Cited as authority (verbatim quote) State v. Timley (2×) also: Cited as authority (rule)
Kan. Ct. App. · 1998 · signal: see, e.g. · quote attribution · 1 verbatim quote · confidence high
no persuasive distinction between pre-arrest and post-arrest situations
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Desiree Perez, et al. v. Javon Hadley
S.D. Fla. · 2026 · confidence medium
For one’s communications to be protected from interception, one “must have exhibited an actual expectation of privacy,” and “the expectation must be one that society is prepared to recognize as ‘reasonable.’” (ECF No. 227 at 15–16) (citing Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347, 361 (1967); United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527 (11th Cir. 1993)).
cited Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Barry Wayne Hoover
11th Cir. · 2023 · confidence medium
United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527 (11th Cir. 1993).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Lawlor v. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
N.D. Ill. · 2020 · confidence medium
United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527 (11th Cir. 1993); United States v. Clark, 22 F.3d 799, 801 (8th Cir. 1994).
cited Cited as authority (rule) Lawlor v. Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
N.D. Ill. · 2018 · confidence medium
United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527 (11th Cir. 1993); United States v. Clark, 22 F.3d 799, 801 (8th Cir. 1994).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Long v. State (2×)
Tex. Crim. App. · 2017 · confidence medium
App. 2008). .United States v. Peoples, 250 F.3d 630, 637 (8th Cir. 2001) ("Before the interception of a conversation can be found to constitute a search under the Fourth Amendment or an ‘oral communication’ under the federal wiretap law .; ■■ the • individuals involved must show that they had a reasonable expectation of privacy in that conversation.”); United States v. Clark, 22 F.3d 799, 801 (8th Cir. 1994) ("Under either the fourth amendment or the Wiretap Act, the inquiry is' 1) whether the defendant manifested a subjective expectation of privacy, and 2) if so, whether society i…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Gray v. Royal (2×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
S.D. Ga. · 2016 · confidence medium
To prove a violation of Title III, however, the claimant must prove that “the person uttering the words has a reasonable or justifiable expectation of privacy.” United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527 (11th Cir.1993).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Long, Wendee (2×)
Tex. App. · 2015 · confidence medium
There are certainly many cases that, like the single case relied upon by the court of appeals, treat the analyses under Title III and the Fourth Amendment as identical, explicitly or otherwise.88 There are also a number of opinions that are unclear, at times focusing on the plain language of the statute but also applying Justice Harlan’s formulation of Katz or treating the analyses as equivalent.89 At least one case reduces the issue to the 88 See, e.g., United States v. Peoples, 250 F.3d 630, 637 (8th Cir. Mo. 2001) (“Before the interception of a conversation can be found to constitute a …
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Bertha Huff v. Carol Spaw
6th Cir. · 2015 · confidence medium
See Kee v. City of Rowlett, 247 F.3d 206, 211-12 (5th Cir. 2001); United States v. Turner, 209 F.3d 1198, 1200 (10th Cir.2000); United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527 (11th Cir. 1993); United States v. McIntyre, 582 F.2d 1221, 1223 (9th Cir.1978).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Tommy Webster
7th Cir. · 2015 · confidence medium
See United States v. Dunbar, 553 F.3d 48, 57 (1st Cir.2009); United States v. Turner, 209 F.3d 1198, 1200-01 (10th Cir.2000); United States v. Clark, 22 F.3d 799, 801-02 (8th Cir.1994); United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527-28 (11th Cir.1993); United States v. Fridie, 442 Fed.Appx. 839, 841 (4th Cir.2011)(unpublished); United States v. Carter, 117 F.3d 1418 (5th Cir.1997)(un *904 published).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Colon
D. Conn. · 2014 · confidence medium
See United States v. Fridie, 442 Fed.Appx. 839, 841 (4th Cir.2011) (per curiam); United States v. Hernandez-Mendoza, 600 F.3d 971, 977 (8th Cir.2010), opinion amended on denial of reh’g, 611 F.3d 418 (8th Cir.2010); United States v. Dunbar, 553 F.3d 48, 57 (1st Cir.2009); United States v. Turner, 209 F.3d 1198, 1200-1201 (10th Cir.2000); United States v. Carter, 117 F.3d 1418 (5th Cir.1997) (per curiam); United States v. Clark, 22 F.3d 799, 801-02 (8th Cir.1994); United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 528 (11th Cir.1993); see also United States v. Fabian, 2005 WL 2043008 , at *2, report an…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Anne Marie Gennusa v. Brian Canova
11th Cir. · 2014 · confidence medium
Canova do not address the Federal Wiretap Act in their brief, even though a claim for intentional interception of an oral communication under the Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510 (2) & 2511(a)(1), requires a showing that the plaintiff had a subjective expectation of privacy “that society is willing to recognize as reasonable.” United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527-28 (11th Cir. 1993).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Williams (2×) also: Cited "see"
N.D. Ill. · 2014 · confidence medium
(R. 60, Gov’t’s Resp. at 9-10) (citing United States v. Fridie, 442 Fed.Appx. 839, 841 (4th Cir.2011) (per curiam); United States v. Dunbar, 553 F.3d 48, 57 (1st Cir.2009); United States v. Turner, 209 F.3d 1198, 1200-01 (10th Cir.2000); United States v. Clark, 22 F.3d 799, 801-02 (8th Cir.1994); United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 528 (11th Cir.1993)).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Aldrich v. Ruano
D. Mass. · 2013 · confidence medium
See Gennusa v. Shoar, 879 F.Supp.2d 1337, 1347 (M.D.Fla.2012) (stating: “[t]he Eleventh Circuit has held that courts should, apply the .Fourth Amendment’s reasonable expectation of privacy test to determine whether the ‘oral communication’ requirement under the Act has been met”) citing United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527-28 (11th Cir.1993).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Robert Joseph Valerio
11th Cir. · 2013 · confidence medium
We review the district court’s factual findings under the clearly erroneous standard; we review de novo its application of the law to those facts.” United States v. *1324 McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527 (11th Cir.1993) (internal citations omitted). 4 .
cited Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Leighton Martin Curtis
11th Cir. · 2013 · confidence medium
United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527 (11th Cir.1993).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Dunbar
1st Cir. · 2009 · confidence medium
Id. at 1201 (“Patrol cars bristle with electronics, including microphones to a dispatcher, possible video recording with audio pickup, and other electronic and recording devices.” (footnote omitted)); United States v. Clark, 22 F.3d 799, 801-802 (8th Cir.1994) (noting that “[a] marked police car is owned and operated by the state for the express purpose of ferreting out crime,” “is essentially the trooper’s office, and is frequently used as a temporary jail” and concluding that “[t]he general public has no reason to frequent the back seat of a patrol car, or to believe that it …
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Campos v. State
Ind. · 2008 · confidence medium
In United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 526 (11th Cir.1993), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 843 , 114 S.Ct. 130 , 126 L.Ed.2d 94 (1993), McKinnon was a passenger in a vehicle stopped for a traffic violation.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Pattee v. Georgia Ports Authority
S.D. Ga. · 2007 · confidence medium
U.S. v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527 (11th Cir.1993); accord Kee v. City of Rowlett, Tex., 247 F.3d 206 , 211 & n. 8 (5th Cir.2001). 5 In actuality the section contains two slightly different requirements: (1) that the circumstances justify an expectation that the communication is not being intercepted; *1377 and (2) that the speaker “exhibits” that expectation.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Chanthasouxat
11th Cir. · 2003 · confidence medium
If the initial stop had been constitutional, Chanthasouxat’s argument would be foreclosed by our decisions in United States v. Gilley, 43 F.3d 1440, 1441 (11th Cir.1995) (holding that a defendant does not have an expectation of privacy in recorded statements made to a co-defendant in the back seat of a police car), and United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 528 (11th Cir.1993) (holding that a defendant “did not have a reasonable or justifiable expectation of privacy for conversations he held while seated in the back seat area of a police car”).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Meyer v. State
Tex. App. · 2002 · confidence medium
E.g., United States v. Clark, 22 F.3d 799, 801-02 (8th Cir.1994); United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527-28 (11th Cir.1993); State v. Ramirez, 535 N.W.2d 847, 850 (S.D.1995); People v. Seaton, 146 Cal.App.3d 67 , 194 Cal.Rptr. 33, 42 (1983); State v. McAdams, 559 So.2d 601, 602 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App.1990); State v. Hussey, 469 So.2d 346, 351 (La.Ct.App.1985); People v. Marland, 135 Mich.App. 297 , 355 N.W.2d 378, 384 (1984); State v. Lucero, 96 N.M. 126 , 628 P.2d 696, 698 (App.1981).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Hornberger v. American Broadcasting Cos., Inc. (2×) also: Cited "see"
N.J. Super. Ct. App. Div. · 2002 · confidence medium
See, e.g., U.S. v. Peoples, 250 F. 3d 630, 637 (8th Cir.2001) (recordings of conversations between a prisoner and his visitor at a correctional facility were admissible under the federal wiretap law because the individuals had no reasonable expectation of privacy in that conversation); Kee v. City of Rowlett, 247 F. 3d 206, 211 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 122 S.Ct. 210 , 151 L.Ed. 2d 149 (2001) (placement of an electronic surveillance microphone at an outdoor grave site during a funeral was not a violation of the federal Act because of no reasonable expectation of privacy); U.S. v.…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Jerry Meyer v. State
Tex. App. · 2002 · confidence medium
E.g., United States v. Clark, 22 F.3d 799, 801-02 (8th Cir. 1994); United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527-28 (11th Cir. 1993); State v. Ramirez, 535 N.W.2d 847, 850 (S.D. 1995); People v. Seaton, 194 Cal. Rptr.2d 33 , 42 (Cal. Ct. App. 1983); State 4 v. McAdams, 559 So.2d 601, 602 (Fla. Dist.
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Jerry Meyer v. State
Tex. App. · 2002 · confidence medium
E.g., United States v. Clark , 22 F.3d 799, 801-02 (8th Cir. 1994); United States v. McKinnon , 985 F.2d 525, 527-28 (11th Cir. 1993); State v. Ramirez , 535 N.W.2d 847, 850 (S.D. 1995); People v. Seaton , 194 Cal. Rptr.2d 33 , 42 (Cal. Ct. App. 1983); State v. McAdams , 559 So.2d 601, 602 (Fla. Dist.
cited Cited as authority (rule) State v. Torgrimson
Minn. Ct. App. · 2002 · confidence medium
United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527-28 (11th Cir.1993) (citations omitted).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Trevino
Tex. App. · 2001 · confidence medium
See United States v. Clark, 22 F.3d 799, 801-02 (8th Cir.1994); United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527-28 (11th Cir.1993); State v. Crowson, 33 Cal.3d 623 , 190 Cal.Rptr. 165 , 660 P.2d 389, 393 (1983) (stating, "Objectively, [the suspect] surely had no reason to suspect that his conversation with a suspected accomplice in the back of the police car would be afforded any kind of confidentiality”); People v. Palmer, 888 P.2d 348, 350 (Colo.App.1994); Brown v. State, 349 So.2d 1196, 1197 (Fla.App.1977); State v. Hussey, 469 So.2d 346, 351 (La.App.1985); People v. Marland, 135 Mich.App. 2…
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Darlie Kee Darin Routier v. City of Rowlett Texas Jimmy Ray Patterson Chris Frosch Greg Davis, Assistant District Attorney for Dallas County (2×)
5th Cir. · 2001 · confidence medium
No. 90-1097 (1968), reprinted in 1968 U.S.C.C.A.N. 2112, 2178; United States v. Turner, 209 F.3d 1198, 1200 (10th Cir.2000); United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527 (11th Cir.1993). 9 .
discussed Cited as authority (rule) Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion
Tex. Att'y Gen. · 2000 · confidence medium
Subsequent to Palmer, both state and federal courts have consistently held that a suspect seated in a police car does not have an expectation of privacy “that society is willing to recognize as reasonable.” United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525,527 (11 th Cir. 1993).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) State v. Howard (2×) also: Cited "see, e.g."
Del. Super. Ct. · 1998 · confidence medium
U.S. v. Clark, 8th Cir., 22 F.3d 799, 801-02 (1994) (holding that defendant did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy in statements made to companion while seated in police car); U.S. v. McKinnon, 11th Cir., 985 F.2d 525, 528 (1993), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 843 , 114 S.Ct. 130 , 126 L.Ed.2d 94 (1993) (finding that no reasonable or justifiable expectation of privacy existed for conversations held between unrelated defendants as they sat in the back seat of a patrol car); Gross v. Taylor, 1997 WL 535872 (E.D.Pa.1997) (finding that police officers’ expectation of privacy was unreasonable …
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. McKibben
D.S.D. · 1996 · confidence medium
See United States v. Clark, 22 F.3d 799, 801-02 (8th Cir.1994); United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527-28 (11th Cir.1993), ce rt. denied, 510 U.S. 843 , 114 S.Ct. 130 , 126 L.Ed.2d 94 (1993); State v. Ramirez, 535 N.W.2d 847, 850 (S.D.1995); see generally, J.
cited Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Severino Cruz-Hernandez
11th Cir. · 1995 · confidence medium
United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S. —, 114 S.Ct. 130 , 126 L.Ed.2d 94 (1993).
cited Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Jerry Ford
11th Cir. · 1994 · confidence medium
United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S.-, 114 S.Ct. 130 , 126 L.Ed.2d 94 (1993).
cited Cited as authority (rule) State v. Smith
Fla. · 1994 · confidence medium
United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 528 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 114 S.Ct. 130 , 126 L.Ed.2d 94 (1993).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) United States v. Edward Dane Jeffus
4th Cir. · 1994 · signal: cf. · confidence medium
Jones v. Murray, 962 F.2d 302, 306 (4th Cir.), cert. denied, — U.S.-, 113 S.Ct. 472 , 121 L.Ed.2d 378 (1992); cf. United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527 (11th Cir.) (holding that a person lawfully arrested has no expectation of privacy in the back seat of a police car, analogizing the back seat to a jail cell), cert. denied, — U.S. -, 114 S.Ct. 130 , 126 L.Ed.2d 94 (1993).
discussed Cited as authority (rule) DARLIE KEE; DARIN ROUTIER v. CITY OF ROWLETT TEXAS; JIMMY RAY PATTERSON; CHRIS FROSCH; GREG DAVIS, Assistant District Attorney for Dallas County (2×)
unknown court · confidence medium
NO. 90- 1097 (1968), reprinted in 1968 U.S.C.C.A.N. 2112, 2178; United States v. Turner, 209 F.3d 1198, 1200 (10th Cir. 2000); United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527 (11th Cir. 1993). 9 A. Reasonable Expectation of Privacy in Oral Communications “The touchstone of Fourth Amendment analysis is whether a person has a ‘constitutionally protected reasonable expectation of privacy.’” California v. Ciraolo, 476 U.S. 207, 211 (1986) (quoting Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347, 360 (1967) (Harlan, J., concurring)); see also Smith v. Maryland, 442 U.S. 735, 740 (1979) (“Consistently wi…
cited Cited "see" United States v. Larry Fridie
4th Cir. · 2011 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525 (11th Cir.1993) (declining to recognize a reasonable expectation of privacy in conversations that take place inside a police officer’s patrol car).
discussed Cited "see" State v. Rudolph Munn (2×)
Tenn. Crim. App. · 2010 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527-28 (11th Cir. 1993).
discussed Cited "see" Dickerson v. State
Ga. Ct. App. · 2008 · signal: see · confidence high
See OCGA § 24-9-20 et seq. [20] Supra. [21] 553 S.E.2d at 126-129 . [22] 150 Ga.App. 613 , 258 S.E.2d 217 (1979). [23] Id. at 614-615(2)(A), 258 S.E.2d 217 . [24] 267 Ga. 102 , 475 S.E.2d 580 (1996). [25] 985 F.2d 525 (11th Cir.1993). [26] 267 Ga. at 106-107 (3)(d), 475 S.E.2d 580 . [27] See generally Hicks v. State, 256 Ga. 715, 721 (13), 352 S.E.2d 762 (1987) (considerations as to whether prejudicial effect of evidence is outweighed by its probative value are appropriately committed to trial court's discretion). [28] Notice; temporary detention or questioning.
cited Cited "see" United States v. Cofield
S.D. Fla. · 2002 · signal: see · confidence high
See U.S. v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525 (11th Cir.1993) (denying motion to suppress prearrest portion of conversation secretly recorded while defendant was in backseat of police car).
discussed Cited "see" United States v. Turner
10th Cir. · 2000 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527 (11th Cir.1993) (no “reasonable or justifiable expectation of privacy for conversations ... held while seated in the back seat area of a police car”); United States v. Clark, 22 F.3d 799, 802 (8th Cir.1994) (“allowing police to record statements made by individuals seated inside a patrol car does not intrude upon privacy and freedom to such an extent that it could be regarded as inconsistent with the aims of a free and open society”).
discussed Cited "see" United States v. Stewart
5th Cir. · 1998 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525 (11th Cir.1993); United States v. Clark, 22 F.3d 799 (8th Cir.1994) (both involving pre-arrest recorded conversations but extending those holdings to post-arrest recorded conversations in dicta). 5 .
discussed Cited "see" State v. Morgan
Tenn. Crim. App. · 1996 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 843 , 114 S.Ct. 130 , 126 L.Ed.2d 94 (1993) (under the federal statute, denial of motion to suppress recording of defendant's pre-arrest conversations, which occurred while he was seated in the back of a police car, was proper since he did not have a reasonable expectation of privacy); State v. Williams, 690 S.W.2d 517, 523-524 (Tenn.1985) (under the federal statute, denial of motion to suppress recording of defendant's post-arrest conversation, which occurred in the defendant's jail cell, was proper since he …
cited Cited "see" State v. Ramirez
S.D. · 1995 · signal: see · confidence high
See Clark, 22 F.3d at 800 , McKinnon, 985 F.2d at 526 , Seaton, 194 Cal.Rptr. at 35 , and Hussey, 469 So.2d at 348 .
cited Cited "see" United States v. Naomi Rodriguez
4th Cir. · 1993 · signal: see · confidence high
See United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 527-28 (11th Cir. 1993). 6 Rodriguez also argues that her conversation was inadmissible because she was not first advised of her Miranda rights.
cited Cited "see, e.g." Tancredi v. Malfitano
S.D.N.Y. · 2008 · signal: see also · confidence medium
Id.; see also United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 528 (11th Cir.1993) (no ex *512 pectation of privacy for communications in back seat of police car).
discussed Cited "see, e.g." State v. Wilson
Mo. Ct. App. · 2005 · signal: see also · confidence medium
See also United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525, 528 (11th Cir.1993); State v. Smith, 641 So.2d 849, 852 (Fla.1994); People v. Marland, 135 Mich.App. 297 , 355 N.W.2d 378, 384 (1984); People v. Seaton, 146 Cal.App.3d 67 , 194 Cal.Rptr. 33, 42 (1983); State v. McAdams, 559 So.2d 601, 602 (Fla.Dist.Ct.
discussed Cited "see, e.g." Rodriguez v. State
Fla. Dist. Ct. App. · 1998 · signal: see also · confidence low
See DiGuilio v. State, 451 So.2d 487 (Fla. 5th DCA 1984); see also United States v. McKinnon, 985 F.2d 525 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 510 U.S. 843 , 114 S.Ct. 130 , 126 L.Ed.2d 94 (1993); State v. Smith, 641 So.2d 849 (Fla.1994); State v. McAdams, 559 So.2d 601 (Fla. 5th DCA 1990); Brown v. State, 349 So.2d 1196 (Fla. 4th DCA 1977), cert. denied, 434 U.S. 1078 , 98 S.Ct. 1271 , 55 L.Ed.2d 785 (1978).
Retrieving the full opinion text from the archive…
UNITED STATES of America, Plaintiff-Appellee,
v.
Steve McKINNON, Defendant-Appellant
91-3944.
Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Mar 9, 1993.
985 F.2d 525
1993 U.S. App. LEXIS 4226
1993 WL 42887
H. Jay Stevens, Federal Public Defender and James H. Burke, Jr., Asst. Federal Public Defender, Jacksonville, FL, for defendant-appellant., Robert W. Genzman, U.S. Atty. and Ernst D. Mueller, Asst. U.S. Atty., Jacksonville, FL, for plaintiff-appellee.
Hatchett, Dubina, Carnes.
Cited by 62 opinions  |  Published
HATCHETT, Circuit Judge:

As a matter of first impression in this circuit, we hold that a person seated in a police car does not have a reasonable expectation of privacy under Title III of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510, et seq. nor the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution.

FACTS

On January 3, 1991, law enforcement officers stopped a pick-up truck in which Theodore Pressley was the driver, and the appellant, Steve McKinnon, was a passenger, for failure to drive in a single lane on the Florida Turnpike extension in Sumter County, Florida. After Pressley successfully performed sobriety tests, one of the officers asked Pressley if he could search the truck for narcotics. Pressléy signed a form signifying his consent. After the officers began the search, they invited McKinnon and Pressley to sit in the back seat of the police car until completion of the search. Accepting the invitation, McKinnon and Pressley sat in the police car while the officers continued to search Pressley’s truck.

Unbeknownst to McKinnon and Pressley, one of the law enforcement officers surreptitiously activated a tape recorder located in the police car which recorded McKin-non’s and Pressley’s incriminating conversations. Upon finding cocaine in the truck, the officers arrested McKinnon and Press-ley. Following the arrest, the officers placed McKinnon and Pressley in the back seat of the police car, and again they engaged in incriminating conversations.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

On February 6, 1991, a federal grand jury indicted McKinnon, charging in three counts that he: (1) knowingly, intentionally and willfully conspired with other persons to distribute cocaine and cocaine base pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 846; (2) knowingly, intentionally and willfully possessed cocaine and cocaine base pursuant to 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1); and (3) aided and abetted in the possession of cocaine and cocaine base pursuant 18 U.S.C. § 2. McKinnon entered not guilty pleas.

On the morning of trial, McKinnon filed a motion to suppress the pre-arrest portion of the tape recorded conversation. After a hearing on the motion, the district court denied the motion to suppress. Later, McKinnon entered a plea of guilty to all three counts, but reserved the right to appeal the denial of the motion to suppress. The district court sentenced McKinnon to 150 months imprisonment on each count to run concurrently, plus five years of supervised release. McKinnon filed this appeal.

CONTENTIONS OF THE PARTIES

McKinnon contends that the admission of the tape recording of his pre-arrest conversation while he sat in the back seat area of a police car violates Title III of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 2510 et seq. (“Title III”) and his right to privacy pursuant to the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The government contends that McKinnon could not have reasonably believed that he had a right to privacy in the back seat area of a police car; hence, neither Title III nor the Fourth Amendment apply.

ISSUE

The sole issue is whether the district court erred in denying the motion to suppress the tapes resulting from the secret recording of McKinnon’s pre-arrest conversations while he sat in the back seat of the police car.

[*527] DISCUSSION

Whether the district court erred in denying the motion to suppress is a mixed question of law and fact. United States v. Wilson, 894 F.2d 1245, 1254 (11th Cir.), cert. denied sub nom. Levine v. United States, 497 U.S. 1029, 110 S.Ct. 3284, 111 L.Ed.2d 792 (1990). We review the district court’s factual findings under the clearly erroneous standard; we review de novo its application of the law to those facts. Wilson, 894 F.2d at 1254.

McKinnon asserts that the tape recording of his pre-arrest conversations violates Title III and his Fourth Amendment right to privacy. Title III prohibits unauthorized interception and disclosure of oral communications. 18 U.S.C. § 2511. The government argues that the recording of McKinnon’s conversation does not constitute the recording of an “oral communication” as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 2510(2). Title III defines “oral communication” as “any oral communication uttered by a person exhibiting an expectation that such communication is not subject to interception under circumstances justifying such exception, but such term does not include any electronic communication.” 18 U.S.C. § 2510(2). Thus, we must decide the statutory question gleaned from Title Ill’s language and the legislative history. That is, whether the person uttering the words has a reasonable or justifiable expectation of privacy. See 18 U.S.C. § 2510(2); S.Rep. No. 541, 99th Cong., 2d Sess. (1986), reprinted in 1986 U.S.C.C.A.N. 3555, 3567; United States v. Harrelson, 754 F.2d 1153, 1169 (5th Cir.), cert. denied, 474 U.S. 908, 106 S.Ct. 277, 88 L.Ed.2d 241 (1985) (framing the question as whether a reasonable expectation of privacy existed).

The legislative history of Title III directs that we consider “oral communication” in light of the constitutional standards expressed in Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347, 88 S.Ct. 507, 19 L.Ed.2d 576 (1967). S.Rep. No. 1097, 90th Cong., 2d Sess. (1968), reprinted in 1968 U.S.C.C.A.N. 2112, 2178. The constitutional question is “whether the person invoking its [Fourth Amendment] protection can claim a ‘justifiable,’ a ‘reasonable,’ or a ‘legitimate expectation of privacy’ that has been invaded by government action.” Smith v. Maryland, 442 U.S. 735, 740, 99 S.Ct. 2577, 2580, 61 L.Ed.2d 220 (1979) (referring to Katz); accord United States v. Shields, 675 F.2d 1152, 1158 (11th Cir.), cert. denied, 459 U.S. 858, 103 S.Ct. 130, 74 L.Ed.2d 112 (1982) (citing Katz, 389 U.S. at 353, 88 S.Ct. at 512 and United States v. White, 401 U.S. 745, 752, 91 S.Ct. 1122, 1126, 28 L.Ed.2d 453 (1971)). Hence, the statutory and constitutional test is whether a reasonable or justifiable expectation of privacy exists.

This test has two prongs. First, whether McKinnon’s conduct exhibited a subjective expectation of privacy; second, whether McKinnon’s subjective expectation of privacy is one that society is willing to recognize as reasonable. Smith, 442 U.S. at 740, 99 S.Ct. at 2580 (citing Katz, 389 U.S. at 361, 88 S.Ct. at 516).

McKinnon argues that he exhibited a subjective expectation of privacy because he could not exit the police car, did not consent to the surreptitious recording, was out of the officers’ range for hearing his conversations, and was not under arrest. Furthermore, McKinnon argues that society is willing to recognize this subjective expectation of privacy because the government violated his rights because it did not have probable cause to conduct this secret search. Finally, McKinnon argues that the front seat of a police car is equivalent to the officer’s office, but the back seat is the office of the arrestee.

The government counters that no expectation of privacy exists in a marked police car, which is tantamount to a police officer’s office. Furthermore, the back seat of a police car is equivalent to a jail, and no reasonable expectation of privacy exists in a jail cell. Additionally, the government argues that McKinnon could hear police radio transmissions while in the back of the police car; hence, no reasonable or justifiable expectation of privacy existed.

Though we have no controlling authority in this circuit, one federal district court and[*528] several state courts have held that no reasonable expectation of privacy exists in the back seat area of a police car. United States v. Sallee, 1991 WL 352613, 1991 U.S.Dist. LEXIS 20553 (N.D.Ill.1991); State v. McAdams, 559 So.2d 601, 602 (Fla. 5th D.C.A.1990); State v. Hussey, 469 So.2d 346, 351 (La.Ct.App.2d Cir.), cert. denied, 475 So.2d 777 (La.1985); People v. Marland, 135 Mich.App. 297, 355 N.W.2d 378, 384 (1984); State v. Lucero, 96 N.M. 126, 128, 628 P.2d 696, 698 (Ct.App.1981); Brown v. State, 349 So.2d 1196, 1197 (Fla. 4th D.C.A.1977), cert. denied, 434 U.S. 1078, 98 S.Ct. 1271, 55 L.Ed.2d 785 (1978). McKinnon fails to satisfy either prong of the test. Hence, we hold that McKinnon did not have a reasonable or justifiable expectation of privacy for conversations he held while seated in the back seat area of a police car.

Moreover, McKinnon concedes that his post-arrest conversations are not entitled to Title III or Fourth Amendment protection. He argues, however, that a person has broader rights pre-arrest than post-arrest. We find no persuasive distinction between pre-arrest and post-arrest situations in this case. See Harrelson, 754 F.2d at 1169-1170 (finding inmate and visiting wife had no reasonable expectation of privacy while conversing in a jail); Marland, 355 N.W.2d at 384 (holding detainees, not under formal arrest, had no reasonable expectation of privacy while conversing in a police car); Hussey, 469 So.2d at 351 (finding “guests” or “visitors” of arrestee had no reasonable and justifiable expectation of privacy while conversing in the back of a police car). Both situations require the same test.

We affirm the district court's denial of the motion to suppress.

AFFIRMED.