What part of the vehicle may the police search if they have probable cause?
A. Generally, the police officer may search the immediate area at the driver’s command, that is, under and around the front seat. The law is always changing. Sometimes state constitutions offer greater protection against searches than the U.S. Constitution. Therefore, if you have questions about a search the police have made of your vehicle, it is best to consult a lawyer in your state. Q. May the officer search in my glove compartment? A. Yes, the Supreme Court has held that such a warrantless search is permissible. The reason is that the glove compartment is within the arrested driver’s reach. Q. May the officer search a closed container inside my car? A. Police are permitted to search containers or packages found during a legitimate warrantless search of a vehicle. The container must be one that might reasonably contain evidence of a crime for which the officer had probable cause to search the vehicle in the first place. In 1982, the Supreme Court ruled that the police do not need a
