Traveling from one legal state to another; California motorist busted for pot in Utah

stock photo | St. George News

IRON COUNTY – A Riverside, California man traveling through Southern Utah on his way to Colorado was arrested Monday by the Utah Highway Patrol for having more than a pound of marijuana in his possession.

Although he carried a current and valid medical marijuana card from the state of California, 31-year-old Deyton Francois Davis was still breaking the law in Utah, said UHP Sgt. Ryan Bauer.

“You can’t bring marijuana into the state of Utah even if you have a medical card,” Bauer said. “Because of the way the laws of the constitution are set up, you have to obey the laws of each state that you are in while you are in it.”

When asked why he didn’t wait until arriving in Colorado to purchase marijuana for consumption, Davis told the UHP trooper that the product was much cheaper in California, Bauer said.

Davis was driving a rented black 2010 Infiniti and was pulled over for speeding on Interstate 15 at mile marker 70, just south of Parowan, Bauer said. The SUV was traveling at 90 mph.

It wasn’t until the driver rolled down the window and the trooper smelled marijuana that the vehicle was searched on a probable cause warrant.

“Based on the smell, the trooper went ahead and conducted a search of the man’s SUV and found approximately one-and-a-half pounds of marijuana,” he said.

During the search, Bauer said, Davis admitted to the trooper that he had been smoking marijuana recently. Davis was arrested and remanded to the custody of the Iron County Jail at 1:01 p.m.

According to the Iron County Bookings website, Davis was charged with two third-degree felonies, possession of marijuana 16 ounces to 100 pounds and possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance; two class B misdemeanors, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with a measurable controlled substance (DUI metabolite); and an infraction for speeding.

According to the report, Bauer said, Davis was also driving on a suspended or revoked license which the trooper charged him with at the scene.

A representative of the Iron County Jail said that Davis’ bail is currently set at $7,500, but that it is subject to change after he goes before a judge. As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, Davis was still in custody.

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18 Comments

  • ladybugavenger December 23, 2014 at 6:17 pm

    Make marijuana legal already. What the problem is?

    • ToTheDefense December 23, 2014 at 8:30 pm

      @Ladybugged, “What the problem is?” That’s evidence of the problem. Keep it illegal.

      • Koolaid December 23, 2014 at 8:52 pm

        Keep it illegal said supporters of hatch (recipient of pharmaceutical drug companies million dollar contributions)

      • ladybugavenger December 23, 2014 at 10:37 pm

        Hahaha if playing with words is evidence of why it should be illegal than we definitely need to legalize marijuana. Everyone could just chill out, relax, have a good meal, and get some sleep. People these days are so uptight.

  • ladybugavenger December 23, 2014 at 6:24 pm

    Obey traffic laws!!! And don’t drive an a suspended license- that’s just bad news and a high fine.

  • koolaid December 23, 2014 at 6:57 pm

    He’ll probably get a harsher sentence than that Washington County deputy, upholder of the law, dui, over 2x the legal limit and with children and weapons in the vehicle. Such is the way of justice in Utah.

  • ladybugavenger December 23, 2014 at 10:39 pm

    Same sex marriage is legal but marijuana’s not- the world is upside down

    • Joe Smith December 23, 2014 at 10:58 pm

      Just wait til Obama takes all the guns…

      • sandydog5 December 29, 2014 at 5:35 pm

        Pres. Obama doesn’t want your gun or mine. Did you read the story?

    • The Rest Of The Story December 24, 2014 at 12:23 am

      What does same sex marriage have to do with it?

      • Koolaid December 29, 2014 at 8:18 pm

        It’s a religious and biblical thing. Don’t you know a man who lies down with another man should be stoned? Now that same sex marriages are legal, how long before marijuana is legalized?

  • Evil twins mommy December 23, 2014 at 10:49 pm

    Yes as the constitution clearly points out people must obey the laws of each state. What is legal in one is not legal in another state. Utah is a wonderful place to live. The state government puts laws in places to protect the citizens of this great state we are truly blessed to have such a state government that protect its citizens. Merry Christmas everyone

  • Prongs December 24, 2014 at 1:21 pm

    Nothing really bugs me here except for the intent to distribute charge. He had a medical card so clearly the marijuana was for him. He wasn’t intending to sell it I’m sure

  • Bob December 24, 2014 at 4:17 pm

    Decriminalize marijuana and have it rescheduled. no need for legal pot they tax it too much anyways

  • rising_sun December 24, 2014 at 9:35 pm

    If alchohal and ciggerettes are legal pot should be too. Regardless don’t speed and you won’t get caught drivers fault. The other thing I don’t understand is why people are so against it. If you don’t like it don’t do it. Just cause its legal doesn’t mean its going to affect you non-believers. I don’t know why its such a big deal our prisons are full of “marijuana abusers” when they should be full of rapists and murderers. We are waisting trax payers money on those inmates. Its 45$ a day per prisoner in tax money . legalize and tax the …* out of it if you want our money…
    Ed. ellipsis: …*

  • Shelly December 29, 2014 at 6:38 pm

    The problem is that wherever marijuana is legal, they are trying to figure out what the legal limit should be, as with alcohol testing, while driving a motor vehicle. They are working on how to test the pot smokers, and what is too much. If everyone who smoked pot stayed home and did not drive, things would be better, but that is not the case. Some people who smoke marijuana cause motor vehicle accidents, just like people who drink alcohol and drive. Driving under the influence can be a lot of different things.

    • Koolaid December 29, 2014 at 8:17 pm

      So after how many decades of making marijuana illegal, those politicians who are bought out by alcohol, tobacco and pharmaceutical companies (such as one Senator Hatch) make the same comments as you. More likely, it’s about the dollar in the pockets of those politicians and the multi-billion dollar industries of alcohol, tobacco and pharmaceutical drug companies leading the fight to keep marijuana illegal.

      • Shelly December 29, 2014 at 8:43 pm

        Koolaid, I wasn’t trying to make this political at all. Also, I really don’t care about any companies or politicians making money, that has nothing to do with my comment. I am an old, retired nurse who has seen a lot of drug abuse over the years in emergency rooms, and hospitals. Also I have several relatives in law enforcement. I’m just trying to help educate a few people, maybe help save a few lives, who knows? I think that the less legalized drugs, the better, which includes marijuana, etc. No problem if you stay home and do whatever you need to do , just don’t get on the road driving around and possibly killing innocent people.

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