http://caselaw.findlaw.com/wa-court-of-appeals/1519591.html
Shirley Johnson was convicted of one count of possession of a controlled substance following a bench trial. Ms. Johnson appeals her conviction, alleging that the court erred by denying her motion to suppress the evidence.
She contends her arrest for driving while license suspended in the third degree was a pretextual arrest that violated article I, section 7 of the Washington Constitution. Ms. Johnson also challenges her conviction under Arizona v. Gant, --- U.S. ----, 129 S.Ct. 1710, 173 L.Ed.2d 485 (2009).
¶ 2 We affirm the conviction.
This is WA case. Dispatch tells him over the RADIO that the owner has a suspended license he pulls car over based on that. THEN confirms its her. Searches incident to arrest and finds contraband.
She appealed and it was affirmed.
Here's more..... Ive highlated relevant portions to this discussion.
"On September 6, 2007, while on routine patrol, Officer Mike Suniga noted Ms. Johnson's vehicle on the highway and
ran a routine check of the vehicle license plates.
Officer Suniga noticed nothing suspicious about Ms. Johnson's vehicle. Officer Suniga was preparing to turn onto another highway when dispatch advised him that the registered owner's license was suspended. Officer Suniga then initiated a traffic stop as Ms. Johnson was pulling into a gas station parking lot. Ms. Johnson exited her vehicle with her purse and confirmed her identity as the registered owner of the vehicle. Officer Suniga arrested Ms. Johnson for driving with license suspended in the third degree (DWLS), handcuffed her, and placed her in the back of his patrol car. Officer Suniga then searched her purse and vehicle incident to arrest. Ms. Johnson's purse contained a purple bag containing a glass pipe with burnt residue. The purple bag contained a blue, semi-transparent plastic container with two small baggies containing a white crystalline substance that field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Officer Suniga then advised Ms. Johnson she was also under arrest for possession of a controlled substance."
I'm sure there's cases like this all across the states. Now if there is some obvious factor that would tell you its NOT the owner, then that would make it a bad stop. Easiest example.... car registered to FEMALE and MALE driving. Well if a cop pulls the car over knowing that Mary has a suspended license but can see clear as day it's a guy driving.... then bad stop. But if it's Mary who has suspended license and it's a woman driving then it's reasonable to believe it's her. See above case.
Also for the "we don't need no stinking license for commercial activities...." Her conviction was upheld. Good luck guys. Be safe.