Patrol Case Law: Miranda V. City of Cornelius

The Miranda v. City of Cornelius case is a legal battle between the Mirandas and the City of Cornelius, concerning the city’s impoundment of their vehicle. The Mirandas challenged the legality of the impoundment, claiming it violated their Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable seizures and their Fourteenth Amendment right to due process. The court determined that the city’s impoundment was unreasonable because it lacked a legitimate "community caretaking" purpose, as the vehicle was parked on the Mirandas’ property and posed no threat to public safety. The court also found that while the city provided the Mirandas with an opportunity to contest the impoundment after the fact, there was no evidence that the city had a policy that deprived the Mirandas of a meaningful opportunity to contest the seizure. Ultimately, the court reversed the lower court's ruling, finding the impoundment unreasonable and remanding the case for further proceedings.