Supreme Court limits police searches of vehicles; warrant needed if driver is in custody
MARK SHERMAN |Associated Press Writer2:57 PM EDT, April 21, 2009 WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that police need a warrant to search the vehicle of someone they have arrested if the person is locked up in a patrol cruiser and poses no safety threat to officers.
The court's 5-4 decision in a case from Arizona puts new limits on the ability of police to search a vehicle immediately after the arrest of a suspect, particularly when the alleged offense is nothing more serious than a traffic violation.
Justice John Paul Stevens said in the majority opinion that warrantless searches still may be conducted if a car's passenger compartment is within reach of a suspect who has been removed from the vehicle or there is reason to believe evidence will be found of the crime that led to the arrest.
Rest of story here. Supreme Court limits police searches of vehicles; warrant needed if driver is in custody -- Newsday.com
In my personal opinion, they have been putting people into custody just so they can search the vehicle even if the suspect says no. I think it is a pointless ruling to waste time on. More important issues out there than this squabble.
MARK SHERMAN |Associated Press Writer2:57 PM EDT, April 21, 2009 WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that police need a warrant to search the vehicle of someone they have arrested if the person is locked up in a patrol cruiser and poses no safety threat to officers.
The court's 5-4 decision in a case from Arizona puts new limits on the ability of police to search a vehicle immediately after the arrest of a suspect, particularly when the alleged offense is nothing more serious than a traffic violation.
Justice John Paul Stevens said in the majority opinion that warrantless searches still may be conducted if a car's passenger compartment is within reach of a suspect who has been removed from the vehicle or there is reason to believe evidence will be found of the crime that led to the arrest.
Rest of story here. Supreme Court limits police searches of vehicles; warrant needed if driver is in custody -- Newsday.com
In my personal opinion, they have been putting people into custody just so they can search the vehicle even if the suspect says no. I think it is a pointless ruling to waste time on. More important issues out there than this squabble.
