This appeal involves the validity under the Fourth Amendment of the search of the car that Ralph Dorsey Howard was driving and in which his wife Sharon Howard and Ronnie Lee Williams had been passengers. The trial court granted appellees’ motions to suppress evidence, which included cocaine and a pistol found in a duffel bag on the floorboard of the car, and the State appeals. We find that impoundment of the vehicle was reasonable, and an inventory search is permitted in conjunction with impoundment. We also find that the search was incident to Howard’s lawful arrest. We therefore conclude that the trial court erred in granting the motions to suppress. The record shows that Ralph Howard “Howard” was driving a black Corvette on Highway 121 in Charlton County when the car struck and killed a deer. Because the dashboard instruments indicated a lack of oil pressure he immediately pulled over and asked his wife to call his brother, a former Georgia State Trooper, and instruct him to call a tow truck. A passing volunteer firefighter informed a Charlton County Deputy Sheriff about the disabled car, and the deputy proceeded to the scene. When he arrived, he observed a tow truck and three individuals, who were standing near the disabled Corvette, which was in the process of being loaded onto the tow truck.
The deputy immediately told the tow truck driver to stop loading the Corvette. He then asked whether a report was needed of the accident and if so, he would have to know who the driver was and see proof of insurance. Howard identified himself as the driver, said he did need a report, and gave the deputy a Georgia driver’s license. When the officer called his dispatcher to have a computer check run on the license, it “came back suspended” because of insurance cancellation. When asked for his insurance card, Howard did not furnish one, but he handed the officer a paper bearing a toll-free number and showing a price quote for insurance on the Corvette.1 Finding this insufficient proof of insurance, the deputy placed Howard under arrest for not having proof of insurance and driving without a valid license. The deputy then instructed the tow truck driver to tow the Corvette to the sheriff’s office.
