Case Explained: United States v. Underwood

Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit Filed: 2026-08-03 Docket: 6:24-CR-00099-RAW-1) The tenth-circuit affirmed the district court’s denial of Underwood’s motion to suppress evidence obtained during a vehicle search. The court held that the traffic stop was constitutional because the officer had reasonable suspicion that the driver violated Oklahoma law prohibiting stopping in the middle of a roadway when it is practicable to pull over. Applying de novo review to the Fourth Amendment reasonableness determination, the court found that the area where the vehicle stopped consisted mainly of unimproved land and thus did not qualify as a “residence district” exempt from the statute’s restrictions. Furthermore, the officer’s testimony that the driver could have safely moved the vehicle to the side of the narrow road provided specific and articulable facts supporting reasonable suspicion that the stop was impracticable. Consequently, Underwood’s conviction for possessing an unregistered firearm stands. Do It For The Case Law is a news reporting service. Nothing in this episode constitutes legal advice.