Under the Fourth Amendment, which conditions justify a vehicle search?

• A. Probable cause or voluntary consent; additional valid exceptions include incident to arrest and the automobile exception with probable cause.
• B. Any officer's suspicion alone.
• C. Only after a full search of occupant's belongings.
• D. None; vehicles cannot be searched.

Answer: (A)

Under the Fourth Amendment, a vehicle search is allowed when the officer has probable cause that the vehicle contains evidence or contraband, or when the person consents to the search. There are also two additional recognized justifications: a search incident to an arrest, which permits searching the vehicle in connection with arrest procedures when appropriate for safety or evidence preservation, and the automobile exception, which allows a warrantless search of the vehicle if there’s probable cause to believe it contains contraband or evidence. Mere suspicion isn’t enough to justify a search, and a vehicle can’t be searched based on distrust or a hunch alone. The idea that vehicles cannot be searched is incorrect.