The New Hampshire Attorney General has decided not to pursue more than a dozen cases related to a Border Patrol Checkpoint in the White Mountains in 2017.
Though checkpoints like these take place more than 90 miles from the Canadian border, they are legal under federal law.
The state had initially charged several people with possessing small amounts of drugs after they were searched during the stop.
But the Circuit Court ruled that the evidence was seized in violation of the individuals' rights under the state constitution.
Deputy Attorney General Jane Young said taking a state’s appeal is an “extraordinary measure.”
“When we looked at the facts, all of the facts in the applicable law, the decision was made not to exercise our discretion to take an appeal,” Young said.
“We are pleased that these cases have finally been dismissed and that this matter is now over.” said Gilles Bissonnette, ACLU-NH’s Legal Director and co-counsel, in a statement. “The result in these cases is a victory for civil liberties.”
