Also known as: traffic · trafficked · traffics · human trafficking · drug trafficking · narcotics trafficking
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
The illegal commercial dealing in controlled substances. The activity triggers comprehensive federal regulatory schemes that permit aggregation of intrastate conduct to establish substantial effects on interstate commerce.
Theo Thomas grows marijuana plants in his basement for personal medical use under state law. Federal agents obtain a warrant after linking his activity to a larger distribution network. The court upholds the warrant because the intrastate cultivation falls within the federal scheme regulating drug trafficking.
Tyler Taylor is pulled over for a broken taillight. While the officer writes the citation, a drug dog alerts on the trunk. The alert leads to discovery of packaged narcotics. The sniff is upheld because it occurred within the time of the lawful stop and revealed only the presence of contraband linked to trafficking.
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Talia Torres rides as a passenger in a car stopped for speeding. Officers order her out of the vehicle while they question the driver about suspected drug transport. The order is valid even without suspicion that she is involved in trafficking.
Tonya Takahashi is stopped for an expired registration tag. Officers admit they hoped to find evidence of drug trafficking. The stop remains valid because probable cause existed for the traffic violation regardless of the officers' subjective motive.
Thomas Thompson challenges a federal agency rule that treats certain intrastate transfers as trafficking violations. The court reviews the rule de novo rather than deferring to the agency's reading of the statute.
Yes. When part of a comprehensive federal scheme, courts may aggregate the effects of intrastate economic activity to find a substantial effect on interstate commerce.
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No. The sniff must occur within the time reasonably required to complete the original traffic mission and does not require separate suspicion.
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Yes. Officer safety permits ordering passengers out even without individualized suspicion of danger.
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No. Probable cause for a traffic violation makes the stop reasonable regardless of subjective motives.
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