Automobile Searches

Front 1

Can police search a car when they have reason to believe there is evidence of a crime in that car?

Back 1

No

Front 2

Can police search a car when they have probable cause to believe there is evidence of a crime in that car?

Back 2

Yes (Carroll; Acevedo)

Front 3

Can police search the containers inside a car if they have probable cause to believe there is evidence of a crime somewhere in the car?

Back 3

Yes but they can only search containers in which the evidence could reasonably be located (Acevedo)

Front 4

If police have probable cause to search a car for evidence can they search the pocket of an occupant’s coat?

Back 4

If the occupant is wearing it - No (Di Ri); If the occupant is not wearing it - Yes (Houghton)

Front 5

If police arrest the driver of a vehicle may they search the passenger compartment of the car?

Back 5

Yes - IF the driver is not handcuffed/locked in the police car OR if they reasonably believe that there is evidence of the crime for which they were arrested in the compartment

Front 6

If police arrest the driver of a vehicle may they search the trunk or glove compartment of the car?

Back 6

Yes - IF they have probable cause to believe there is evidence that may reasonably be located in those places; NO - if they only have a reasonable suspicion that there is evidence in those locations

Front 7

If police stop a car (without arresting anyone) can they search the passenger compartment of that car?

Back 7

Yes - IF they have a reasonable suspicion that any occupants are dangerous

Front 8

May police search an arrestee’s car if they arrest him before he reaches the car or after he has exited the car?

Back 8

Yes - IF they have very recently been in the car (Thornton)

Front 9

Requirements for valid inventory searches

Back 9

Must be executed pursuant to standardized procedures and not on the basis of particularized suspicion; Some discretionary judgment is OK as long as it is executed according to standardized criteria (Bertine)