Although a defendant has a valid temporary license plate, if the temporary plate is not clearly visible a police officer is justified in conducting a traffic stop of the vehicle. In People v. Simmons (No. 331116), police conducted a traffic stop under these circumstances and the officer located a firearm during a subsequent consent search of the vehicle. Defendant was charged with carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a felony (felon-in-possession), possession of ammunition by a person convicted of a felony, receiving and concealing a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony (felony-firearm), and operating a motor vehicle with a suspended license. The Court of Appeals reversed the trial court’s grant of defendant’s motion to suppress, finding that the traffic stop was justified and therefore the physical evidence found in the car was validly obtained.
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