Police officers help to stop criminal activity by patrolling and responding to calls for assistance. They also investigate alleged criminal activity so that prosecutors can charge someone with a crime. The evidence they gather will often form the foundation of the state’s case against a defendant.
During a Virginia traffic stop, police officers are often eager to find any evidence they can of significant misconduct. They may ask someone questions to screen them for signs of drunk driving. They might also ask to search someone’s vehicle. Many people are quick to agree when a police officer makes such a request. Oftentimes, they assume that the officer could conduct a search even if they say no. They may not realize that the officer probably asked because they didn’t have a justification to search their vehicle otherwise.
The law limits vehicle searches
The Constitution includes numerous important amendments that protect people against government abuses. Those dealing with a police officer in a face-to-face interaction often benefit from the Fourth Amendment. The Fourth Amendment extends protections against unreasonable searches and property seizures. The Fourth Amendment therefore limits when a police officer can go through someone’s vehicle during a traffic stop. Occasionally, when an officer strongly suspects criminal activity, they could arrest someone and seek a warrant from a judge based on their suspicions.
Other times, they may have the probable cause that the law requires to conduct a search without a warrant. Probable cause means having a reasonable and articulable suspicion of criminal activity. Generally, officers must believe that someone engaged in a specific type of criminal conduct to have the necessary probable cause to search a vehicle.
Otherwise, they rely on the driver giving them permission. Despite these rules, police officers might conduct a search without permission, a warrant or probable cause. Such situations could lead to someone’s arrest. However, a defense attorney could potentially prevent the state from using any evidence gathered in an illegal search of someone’s vehicle.