Seeing police lights in your rear-view window is a cause of apprehension. A reel of questions might run through your head, “Why am I being stopped?” “What questions will they ask me?” “Am I in trouble?” Simply being pulled over is enough to make your heart flutter, but your heart rate may elevate dramatically if the officer asks to search your car. At this point, the officer probably suspects serious wrongdoing, and the chance of arrest may have increased.
However, the officer cannot search your vehicle without a valid reason. Due to the Fourth Amendment's protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, police officers can only search a car if there is a reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing.
When Can Police Search a Vehicle?
The Constitution protects us from unjustified searches and seizures of personal property. However, the law applies differently to different types of property. Police usually need a search warrant before entering and searching someone's home. However, the expectation for privacy in a vehicle is lower than the expectation of privacy in a vehicle. Consequently, there are a greater number of reasons why police may conduct a warrantless search.
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