California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Gallant, 225 Cal.App.3d 200, 275 Cal.Rptr. 50 (Cal. App. 1990):
Once again, we disagree. We question whether a single residence is immediately transformed into a "high crime area" by the one-time discovery of several baggies of methamphetamine. Moreover, whatever history of illicit activity is necessary for a place to earn the reputation for a high level of crime, and whatever the geographical extent of such an area, it is settled that the presence of a person in such an area, by itself, is "not sufficient to justify interference with an otherwise innocent-appearing citizen." (People v. Holloway, supra, at p. 155, 221 Cal.Rptr. 394.) That a person chooses to "visit relatives or friends" who reside in a high crime area does not justify police in viewing that visit with suspicion. (People v. Bower (1979) 24 Cal.3d 638, 645, 156 Cal.Rptr. 856, 597 P.2d 115.)
The above passage should not be considered legal advice. Reliable answers to complex legal questions require comprehensive research memos. To learn more visit www.alexi.com.