Zabala

Defendant Saul Zabala was convicted of transporting a controlled substance, possessing a controlled substance for sale, and driving with a suspended license. He challenges the trial court's order denying his motion to suppress methamphetamine found in his car behind the dashboard console. As we will explain, the removal of the console here exceeded the scope of a permissible inventory search. But the search was supported by probable cause and was therefore lawful under the automobile exception to the warrant requirement. Accordingly, we will affirm the judgment.

*906 I. BACKGROUND

Defendant was driving with a suspended license when he was stopped by a Santa Clara County Sheriff's deputy for a traffic infraction. The vehicle was searched following the deputy's decision to impound it, and methamphetamine was found in a hidden compartment behind the dashboard console. Defendant was charged with possession for sale of methamphetamine ( Health & Saf. Code, § 11378 ; count 1), transportation of methamphetamine ( Health & Saf. Code, § 11379, subd. (a) ; count 2), and driving with a suspended license ( Veh. Code, § 14601.1, subd. (a) ; count 3). The information alleged four prior…