Erosion of 4A in PA

[ryknoll3]

Unfortunately the 4A (or whatever PA's state equivalent is) was knocked down a peg. Brings PA more in line with most states and gives more power to Officer Super-Nose and his 4-legged Bill of Attainder.

Supreme Court: Pennsylvania cops no longer need a warrant to search citizens? vehicles - LancasterOnline: Local News

 

[Light]

Feels like a very "give up some liberty for some security" type of ruling.

What is more important? Catching the druggie on a day he didn't slip up, or catching the druggie without infringing honest citizens rights.

I'm not sure on what the law is exactly, but if the driver denies a search can't an officer call a K9 unit, and based on a hit from the K9 search the vehicle? (IANAL)

 

[Kutnupe14]

Actually, it seems to me to be a good ruling.... assuming it's not a universal "I can search any vehicle I want, at any time" ruling. The PC of a crime must be there.

Kut (found it odd that, in PA, if an officer smelled marijuana, he had to get a warrant)

 

[Kutnupe14]

Feels like a very "give up some liberty for some security" type of ruling.

What is more important? Catching the druggie on a day he didn't slip up, or catching the druggie without infringing honest citizens rights.

I'm not sure on what the law is exactly, but if the driver denies a search can't an officer call a K9 unit, and based on a hit from the K9 search the vehicle? (IANAL)

That's not the way I understood it. EVEN if the K9 hit, a warrant would still be needed. Now reasonable PC is needed.