The U.S. Constitution in Five Minutes - Joseph L. Smith
49. Automobiles and the Fourth Amendment
The U.S. Constitution in Five Minutes - Joseph L. Smith
Melinda Gann Hall [+]
Michigan State University
Melinda Gann Hall is Professor at Michigan State University. Her research focuses on state supreme courts, judicial decision making, and judicial selection.
Description
Ever drive or ride in a motor vehicle? Drivers and passengers routinely encounter law enforcement as a result of traffic violations and accidents. With probable cause, police are constitutionally permitted to conduct warrantless searches of automobiles, along with closed containers inside that are believed to contain contraband.