Automobile searches and many other types of searches and seizures are protected by the fourth amendment. The fourth amendment to the constitution prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures. Searches can only be justifiable if provided a warrant, probable cause, supported by oath of or affirmations. Automobile searches are an important aspect when it comes to police work. Without the ability to conduct warrantless searches on vehicles, the ability to get away with a crime while in a motor vehicle very easy and would become a simple and typical task in the criminal world. When an automobile search can be conducted the officer needs to have probable cause to believe that there is evidence of a crime in the vehicle. The automobile searches are …show more content…
In 2013 a man in New York City was pulled over for a minor traffic violation. The three officers on scene stated that they smelled marijuana and spotted at police scanner and cash on the center counsel. The officers arrested the man, and in that case the care will be inventoried, but when arrested the three officers searched the car and even under the hood to discover a handgun in the vehicle. The City Of New york was sued for 3 million dollars stating that the search was done illegally, which it was. After hearing this the Queens district attorney dismissed the charges on the man.
Not all vehicle searches go that route and majority of them are done legally and result of some sort of evidence of a crime being gathered. All police officers know the law and know that they need probable cause to search a vehicle due to the fact that if they do not have probable cause and do it anyway then the evidence found will it be admissible in court and not to mention they themselves will get into trouble with their superiors. Not every automobile search turns up something
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In United States vs. Chadwick, a double sided foot lockers was enclosed in the car of a suspected drug dealer. Entry to the foot locker was gained and was later determined to be a violation of the fourth amendment. That being said officers would need a warrant to gain entry into an item such as that or verbal consent from the owner of the enclosed item in the vehicle being searched. Back to probable cause though when it comes to closed containers it can be searched without a warrant if it is to be believed contraband or other illegal matter may be in there but it is a tense situation whether it is legal or not. Specific parameters were created to ensure that the police were not just digging through every little thing trying to find criminal