Can the Police search your car?

Do they need a warrant to search your car or just probable cause?

Here's a few that happened to me:

Pulled over at a DWI checkpoint, passed all tests (fucker made me say the alphabet backwards) and he began to go in my car. I said why are you searching my car when I already passed all of your tests. He stopped and got out. Did he have the right to search

Pulled over for speeding cop said he smelled marijuana searched and found 2 grams. Gave me a ticket. I didn't smoke in the car that day nor was I high. Did he have the right?


Victim of hit in run while in my car. Car was totaled on the side of the highway. Cop came searched my car for some reason, and found a half a joint under the back seat. It was only me in the car. Fucker arrested me! Wasn't high or anything. he said my eyes were red and I said it was because I had a newborn who kept me up the whole night , which was true. Did he have the right?

was involved in a fender bender cops came and discovered my license was suspended( I didn't even know) the cop started to go in my truck to search. I was like what are you doing? Why are you searching my truck? They got out and stopped searching. Did they have the right?

These happened within a 10-15 year period its not like I get pulled over every day

No.You don't even need to take a breath test.

All the police neeed to search your car is probable cause.The time at the dwi check point sounds like a illeagle search if you were not drunk or have any vehicle violations.They have to ask to search your car.
The cops will make one up if they want,you have red eyes or they smelled something funny.They are worse than the crooks they are supposed to be chasing.OPH

they need probable cause to search your car, or if they arrest you then they can search your car without asking you.

if they pulled u over and seen a beer can or a firework that's probable cause to search ur car.

also if u have a bandanna in ur car and they see it that to is probable cause <-- lame id say

My friend and I were smoking at a place and the cops rolled up, his car was in the parking lot and we were 50-75 feet away from this. He ran away with the bud and I just chilled.. They called a helicopter, dogs, and didn't find him.. Turns out he stashed the bud in a stump and we went back for it when it got dark. The cops impounded his car and got a warrent/searched it. They have a lot of power and can do whatever with so called 'probable cause', best to avoid them at all costs.

--SS

wake im lokking 4 you

If you get pull over for speeding and a cop wants to search your car...you can say no....they can get a warrant on the spot by calling a judge and asking for 1 stating probable cause (whatever cause they state they have)

Get pulled over in Arizona on the HWY with out of town plates.... the first question they ask you is mind if we look in your trunk..

you say no they slap you in the back of their squad car and you wait til the K-9 unit shows up with the search warrant


Just so you know...If the cops can smell weed in your car or state they smell weed that is enough for them to search you & then your car while they have you sit in the back of thier car

Sounds like you were treated how they are allowed. Mostly they stopped, when they searched, they were in the clear!

the cops are legaly allowed to search ur trunk and look into ur windows from the outside but not legaly aloud to search without a warrant. All you have to do is tell the cop he needs a warrant to search your car (parking in a private parking lot helps with this) so when you see them sirens on pull over into a parking lot instead. If the cop has not charged you with anything and is giving you a hard time you are suppose to say somthin like "well if there is no charges against may i please leave" and they should have to let you go.

duff420 said:

the cops are legaly allowed to search ur trunk and look into ur windows from the outside but not legaly aloud to search without a warrant. All you have to do is tell the cop he needs a warrant to search your car (parking in a private parking lot helps with this) so when you see them sirens on pull over into a parking lot instead. If the cop has not charged you with anything and is giving you a hard time you are suppose to say somthin like "well if there is no charges against may i please leave" and they should have to let you go.

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legally allowed to search your trunk? What state/country are you living in? your car is basically an extension of your home, and your trunk has the same "rights" as your living room. Yes they can look into your windows of your car but looking in your trunk, glove compartment or in any other closed compartment of your car requires probable cause/a warrant.

Plain and simple: Cops are not your friend! Fuck cops

they can do whatever they want..at the end of the day "tell it to the judge"..

The laws vary by state.

When they ask you to get out of your car, always shut the door behind you. An open door is an invitation.

yeah, they need 'probable cause'. buy yea they make shit up. it depends on what state and how u act.

I always had a problem with telling my kids "the policeman is your friend"

I kept it real "the policeman can sometimes help you during times of trouble, yet he is anything but your friend".

I just never liked lying to my kids like that. The policeman is NOT your friend.

misshestermoffitt said:

I always had a problem with telling my kids "the policeman is your friend"

I kept it real "the policeman can sometimes help you during times of trouble, yet he is anything but your friend".

I just never liked lying to my kids like that. The policeman is NOT your friend.

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thats really cool man

cops can do whatever they want.. all they need is probable cause but who's to say what it is...? At the DWI checkpoint all they had to do was say they smelt weed (even if he didnt, whos to say if he smelt it or not?). They can make up whatever they want, even if illegal, there is no way to prove or disprove that he smelt anything

always carry a video camera, if you get stopped, turn it on and set it down, it still captures sound.

Typically if you tell them no...depending on the situation they can impound your car and just search it at the impound than you have additional fees to pay to take your car out...

[video=youtube;uYm5Aqd125w]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYm5Aqd125w&amp;feature=plcp[/video]