Can Cops Enter Home to Arrest Husband for Domestic When He Says You Cant Come In?
Hello, everyone! Today’s question comes from an officer in Iowa: Can you enter an apartment to arrest a husband for domestic violence if the wife is outside the apartment and the husband refuses to let you in? The officer mentioned familiarity with two key cases: Georgia v. Randolph – This case involves a situation where […]
What Factors Can Help to Justify a Vehicle Frisk for Weapons?
Today’s question comes from an officer in Las Vegas: What factors can justify frisking a vehicle for weapons? This is an important question. We’re all familiar with Terry v. Ohio, which allows officers to frisk individuals if they can articulate that the person is armed and dangerous. This standard, while not very high, requires specific, […]
Can Officer Compel Rolling Up Windows for Window Tint Inspection?
This question comes from someone in Texas. To be honest, I’m not sure whether it’s from an officer or a citizen, but that’s okay. Here’s the scenario: An officer pulls over a car for suspected illegal window tint. The driver rolls down all the windows before the officer even reaches the vehicle. Can the officer […]
Is Chocking Open the Door During Knock and Talk a Search or Seizure?
I wanted to share a question that a student asked in class. I think this is an important topic, so I hope you find it valuable. The question was whether officers conducting a knock-and-talk may place their foot in the front door to prevent it from closing while talking to the occupant, without implicating the […]
Can Police Search a Shoplifters Purse for Evidence Without a Formal Arrest?
This question comes from an officer in Colorado: “Can police search a shoplifting suspect’s purse for evidence without making an arrest?” The answer is yes—not just in Colorado, but likely in most jurisdictions. Let’s break it down. General Rule: If you have probable cause that someone has committed a crime, you can search them for […]
Search Incident to Arrest
Can you make a search incident to arrest even if you’re not planning to formally arrest the person and just issue a citation? Today’s question comes from an officer in Colorado. He essentially asked, “If I have probable cause to issue a citation for paraphernalia, can I also search their backpack or their person? Can […]
1A Activities Inside the Courthouse
This question comes from an officer in Alabama. The officer said they have a judge who posted an order stating that no cameras are allowed in the hallway. Apparently, auditors have been entering the courthouse with cameras, standing around filming, which draws attention to their eccentric behavior. They upload the footage to YouTube, which seems […]