To begin with, law enforcement officers pull over traffic offenders every day. In fact, the officer will likely ask for documents like driver’s license and proof of insurance. As well as, they might ask to search your vehicle during the traffic stop.
Even though you have the right to refuse a vehicle search, an officer has a couple of situations they can search without permission. So, it is important to know your rights for searching your vehicle during a traffic stop.
The 4th Amendment And Traffic Stops
First, the Fourth Amendment protects you from unlawful searches. In fact, this amendment applies to your home, business, and your car. Incidentally, traffic stops are the most common place you will interact with law enforcement. So, it is important to know when they can and can’t search your car.
Typically, law enforcement officers need a search warrant to conduct a search. But, there are exceptions in place that allow them to conduct a search without a search warrant.
Consent To Search
With regard to traffic stops, police officers do not necessarily have the right to search your car. Yet, they may ask you if they can search your vehicle. But, if you say yes, you waive your Fourth Amendment rights. And, if you do not consent and clearly tell the officer no, the law requires them to comply.
Search With Probable Cause
On the other hand, a law enforcement officer may search your vehicle during a traffic stop if they have probable cause. For instance, if the officer sees a weapon, drug paraphernalia, or even the smell of drugs they can search your car.
In any event, the officer needs a viable reason to search your car. Unfortunately, some law enforcement exploit this exception to conduct search. Although, without clear probable cause the search is illegal.
Search During An Arrest
Additionally, police officers can search your car during arrestable traffic offenses. Specifically, they will conduct the search to secure evidence. As well as, for their own safety. But, even with an arrest, they have limitations on searches. For one thing, they cannot search your car for evidence if you get arrested for DWLS (Driving While License Suspended).
How to handle a traffic stop with a vehicle search
Finally, law enforcement generally treats every citizen justly during traffic stops. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen. So, we put together a few things you can do to keep the situation from escalating during a traffic stop.
- Remain calm
- Don’t argue or resist
- Keep your hands visible
- Only reach for something when the officer requests
- Comply with lawful requests
Remember, you and your passengers have the right to remain silent. And, if they search or stop you illegally you have the right to dispute it in court. In all honesty, when this happens you need a Tampa criminal defense attorney. So, contact the RHINO Lawyers team.
CONTACT TAMPA TRAFFIC TICKET ATTORNEY
RHINO Lawyers can help and guide you through a system molded by law enforcement, judges, and lawyers for decades. Having won cases for our clients in similar circumstances, our criminal defense team knows what it takes to fight on your behalf.
Let RHINO Lawyers answer your questions and review the facts of your case with a Free Consultation. Get started by completing the “Free Instant Case Evaluation” or by calling us any time, day or night, at 844.329.3491.
