Category Archives: search of vehicle

CAN A DOG SNIFF YOUR CAR FOR DRUGS IN A PUBLIC PLACE?

You parked your car at the mall and went shopping.  When you returned a couple hours later, an officer was waiting with a trained drug detection dog.  The dog had alerted to something in your car.  After a search, the … Continue reading

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CAN POLICE ARREST ME WITHOUT A WARRANT FOR EVIDENCE FOUND IN MY CAR?

On your way home from a friend’s, an officer stopped you for speeding.  While issuing your ticket, the officer noticed a baggie of pills on the passenger side floor.  Because of the pills, you were ordered out of the car … Continue reading

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CAN POLICE CHANGE THE REASON THEY STOP ME?

An officer can stop you for one reason then investigate you for another as long as the stop is not unduly prolonged. Whether a stop was unduly prolonged, and thus illegal, is a very fact-intensive question, which different judges may … Continue reading

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CAN POLICE SEARCH MY CAR BASED ON MARIJUANA WHEN POT IS LEGAL IN ILLINOIS?

According to the Illinois Supreme Court, the answer is yes, especially if combined with other factors. In People v. Hill, an officer stopped the defendant, then searched his car based on the strong odor of cannabis and a cannabis bud … Continue reading

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CAN POLICE SEARCH MY CAR AFTER THEY IMPOUND IT?

After you were arrested for DUI, the officers impounded and searched your car. The search yielded several capsules of an illegal narcotic. The officers did not have a warrant. You are now charged with possession with intent to deliver as … Continue reading

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CAN POLICE SEARCH MY CAR WITHOUT A WARRANT?

The answer is they can if the search falls under the “automobile exception” to the warrant requirement. Because a driver could easily take off with the evidence before police have time to get a warrant, police are allowed to search … Continue reading

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HOW MUCH TIME DOES AN OFFICER HAVE TO INVESTIGATE ME AT A TRAFFIC STOP?

The officer pulled you over for speeding. He ran a check of your license and issued the ticket. But the officer asked you to not to leave quite yet. You were forced to wait while the officer ran some checks … Continue reading

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CAN POLICE SEARCH YOUR CAR? IT DEPENDS ON THE FACTS

A police officer can stop you if he or she has probable cause. An unlit headlight may be cause enough. But once stopped, an officer needs either your consent or a reasonable suspicion of wrongdoing to search your car. What … Continue reading

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DO POLICE HAVE PROBABLE CAUSE TO SEARCH YOUR CAR?

You know you blew a stop sign, so you were not surprised when the officer pulled you over. But then the officer searched your car and found an open bottle of whiskey under the passenger seat. You are now under … Continue reading

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U.S. SUPREME COURT FINDS POLICE SEARCH OF RENTAL CAR NOT LEGAL

You and a friend are driving across country. Your friend leased the rental car and is its sole authorized driver. In spite of that, your friend said you could take the car to run an errand. That’s when the police … Continue reading

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