Supreme Court Limits Car Searches After Arrests

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court has ruled that police need a warrant to search the vehicle of someone they have arrested if the person is locked up in a patrol cruiser and poses no safety threat to officers.

The court’s 5-4 decision Tuesday effectively limits the authority of police to search a vehicle immediately after the arrest of a suspect.

Justice John Paul Stevens said in the majority opinion that if a car’s passenger compartment is not within reach of a suspect who has been removed from the vehicle, then police have little reason to rush to a warrantless search.

The decision backs an Arizona high court ruling in favor of Rodney Joseph Gant, who was handcuffed, seated in the back of a patrol car and under police supervision when Tucson, Ariz., police officers searched his car. They found cocaine and drug paraphernalia.

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Comment by Texas HazMat on April 24, 2009 at 3:48pm
I have also seen wrecker operators increase there unreported profits on wrecked vehicles. I am sure that there are a couple of legit operators around but just to be sure we have stayed and assisted the victims or their family's by unloading the cars or truck of everything event he jacks. Just to be sure.

Thanks for responding

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