Spokane7
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October 22, 2009 in City
Wash. court reins in warrantless car searches
OLYMPIA — The state Supreme Court says police were wrong to search a man’s car after arresting him at home, even though he was standing next to the car with his head ducked in the window when the authorities arrived.
Thursday’s unanimous decision tightens the rules for police searches of a car, when officers don’t have a warrant.
Officers making an arrest can search the open areas of a person’s car without a warrant. But only if there’s an immediate concern for an officer’s safety, or a worry that the person will destroy evidence of the crime at hand.
The arrested person and the crime in question also must have some close connection with the car.
The new ruling says past court decisions have stretched warrantless car searches too far.
© Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Sex trafficking suspects released as probe continues 
SniperCraig on October 22 at 2:31 p.m.
There is hope for our Constitution after all!
PlanB on October 22 at 4:00 p.m.
This is a good start anyway!
dkerns on October 22 at 5:09 p.m.
‘bout damn time!
Bob_Knows on October 22 at 8:31 p.m.
Time to roll back the blue gun thugs. Vote for 1033.
Rifleman__Dodd on October 22 at 9:28 p.m.
Now they should go back case after case and reverse each conviction as applicable.
Glad that Unreasonable Search and Seizure per the Constitution is being upheld. The next thing to be challenged is the unreasonable search of our DNA. I own it and they should need a warrant to search it.