Judge Hill Dismisses Peter Lance Case

SANTA BARBARA - The Santa Barbara District Attorney announced that Judge Hill, Judge of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court dismissed the DUI case against Peter Lance because the court found there was insufficient evidence to stop Mr. Lance.  Hill also granted a Prosecutors motion to suppress evidence in the case against Peter Lance.  According to the DA, "the granting of a motion to suppress under these circumstances means that all the evidence obtained by officers after Mr. Lance’s vehicle was stopped could not be used at trial."

In the hearing Officer Brunn Petersen testified that he saw Mr. Lance's vehicle stopped at a green light for three to five seconds at 1:06 a.m. on New Years day in 2011. Officer Petersen testified that he then pulled alongside Mr. Lance's vehicle and observed his head to be looking downward toward his lap. Officer Petersen further testified he shined a light in Mr.  Lance’s face who then looked at the officer and then looked down again toward his lap before looking up and driving through the green light.

Judge Hill ruled Mr. Lance’s delay at a green light did not provide a sufficient legal basis for
Officer Peterson to pull over Mr. Lance’s vehicle; therefore, the case was dismissed.

According to the DA, Judge Hill did not find there was any misconduct 011 the part of any of the involved officers, including Ofticer Kasi Beutel or any member of the District Attorney’s Office. Judge Hill further stated that Officer Peterson’s decision to step Mr. Lance’s vehicle was not unreasonable.

Judge Hill indicated that California cases provided little guidance on this issue but he did indicate that cases from other states influenced his decision.