Sandra Nelson v. State Alaska

On September 30, 1983, Andrew Blank, a fish and wildlife protection officer, observed a car, driven by Sandra Nelson, traveling 15 to 20 mph in the left hand lane of four-lane Airport Road in Fairbanks. Officer Blank stopped Nelson for impeding traffic. Nelson told the officer she did not have a license, and produced other identification. Officer Blank returned to his car and determined that Nelsons license had been suspended. He then went back to Nelsons car and informed her that he would have to arrest her for driving while her license was suspended. Nelsons mother, Betty Mellot, was also in the car. Officer Blank testified that Nelson was in his custody for thirty to forty minutes. He testified, that she twice told him she was only moving the car a short distance, and that she was having problems with her car. She asked not to be arrested. No Miranda warnings were ever given and, apparently, no questioning took place once Nelson was in custody. The officer testified that he noted no signs of alcohol use by Nelson, and that he was under the impression that the vehicle was malfunctioning.