Just wondering...are Police allowed to search your vehicle when they pull you over, or do they have to have a specific reason?

Like if I get pulled over for a faulty tail light, can the cops search my car?

Why dont you do some research yourself..

If you have an attention span long enough, then you watch this movie.


Busted " Knowing your Rights " presented by the ACLU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yqMjMPlXzdA

Thanks for the link.

I don't want to do research, thats why I started the thread.

Use the easy method, dont keep anything illegal in your car you got nothing to worry about.

Thanks for the incredible advice hmm.

Even if I have no illegal shit in my car I still don't want cops to poke through my shit.

sorry just a joke.......

Yes

There always can be a reasonable explanation

Support your local police
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Agreed-support the Police.

And defend civil liberties

Stinkfist Wrote:
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> Like if I get pulled over for a faulty tail light,
> can the cops search my car?

Yes.

Well they need reasonable suspicion so that would mean seeing a beer can or smelling marijuana. However they can always say that there was one of those factors, or simply ask you in a non direct manor and you consent. Sometimes if you refuse but they want to search you they will call a dog but they can also may the dog self alert if they want to search. So short answer no long answer yes.

i said no and they called a dog...

What did the dog say?
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Profiling - go figure

Doesnt the cop still need a warrant to open the car doors and let the dog in??

AND

Can canine units be summoned in a short matter of time?

My personal experience is that the canine units can be on site in minutes. Other experience dictates that certain officers will "say the right things" to give themselves cause to search you. The Supreme Court has been ambiguous on car searches, at best. For the most part, the police will not bother if you say no and keep saying no. However, if they say you have bloodshot eyes or that they smell some illegal substance, you should relax, remain passively resistant to the search, and just allow them to screw up.

Just because the dog alerted, does not mean the search was legal. Plenty of dog-alerted searches have been thrown out in court. Probable cause is what it is. The dogs can, as another person said, be trained to 'alert' on just about any specific gesture by the officer in charge.

Always hire a lawyer in cases where a search was performed against your consent, if it goes to court.

And, never consent to a search, ever. This isn't Moscow, 1985. We have rights and shouldn't allow them to be trampled. Additionally, as I have found out, you may have forgotten about something, a passenger may have left something behind on a previous ride or dropped something during the current one, or you may have some item in your possession you didn't even know was illegal. The number of objects it is illegal to possess is outlandish in Virginia.

just watch cops. Those dudes are always getting caught on camera throwing shit out the windows.....

Stinkfist Wrote:
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> Doesnt the cop still need a warrant to open the
> car doors and let the dog in??

No.

If the cops say can I search you vehicle, say NO! They may try and trick you by saying, "why do have something etc..." Don't fall for that.

Can they search your car, Yes.

BUT... a good lawyer may find reasons as to why the search can be thrown out in court and you walk free. I knew a guy who got busted for 20 pounds of pot by a State trooper who searched his trunk. The lawyer pleaded that the guy was pressured into giving up his rights. The judge threw the case out on the grounds of an illegal search.

Lurker. Wrote:
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> If the cops say can I search you vehicle, say NO!
> They may try and trick you by saying, "why do have
> something etc..." Don't fall for that.
>
> Can they search your car, Yes.
>
> BUT... a good lawyer may find reasons as to why
> the search can be thrown out in court and you walk
> free. I knew a guy who got busted for 20 pounds
> of pot by a State trooper who searched his trunk.
> The lawyer pleaded that the guy was pressured into
> giving up his rights. The judge threw the case
> out on the grounds of an illegal search.

Wow, Lurker, it sounds like you keep really great company. Did you "know a person" or were you the person...ha ha.

Here's an effective reply that I know has worked in the past and is rarely used.....

Police: "May I search your vehicle?

You: "No, sir. I know my rights."

Police "Why not? Do you have something to hide?"

You: "No, my [father/uncle/aunt] is a judge in the federal circuit and they have educated me on code of criminal procedure and what constitutes probable cause."

Police: "Is that right? What his/her name?

You: [see below].

Your first assertion should be "I'd rather not say since I really don't want to drag them into my personal matters".

If the police officer is persistent, you can pull up the judge's name from any court docket, preferably a neighboring federal circuit court since the police rarely testify in federal matters and are familiar with the court's personnel. Bonus points if you share the same last name, but if not, use the uncle/aunt reply instead. Obviously have this information handy where you keep your registration or insurance information so that you can recall it while the officer is in his cruiser running your information (or just prior to providing).

Dealing with the police during a traffic stop is entirely psychological. If polite, courteous and articulate, you can talk your way out just about anything, especially when dealing with a field officer who takes pride in their job and wouldn't want to call your bluff at risk of being reprimanded for an illegal search.

If you have obvious signs that would give probable cause, such as smell of alcohol or say stolen merchandise in plain sight, then the above would not apply. -§

Stinkfist Wrote:
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> Just wondering...are Police allowed to search your
> vehicle when they pull you over, or do they have
> to have a specific reason?
>
> Like if I get pulled over for a faulty tail light,
> can the cops search my car?


only if they have probablle cause

Ralph Pootawn Wrote:
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> only if they have probablle cause

And the smoke billowing out of your car's window's definitely count. Potheads, please try not to make it obvious.