Advice for New Officers, When Can I Search a Car?
Understanding Probable Cause in Law Enforcement: Insights for New Officers As a new officer in law enforcement, one of the questions that can often arise during traffic stops is how to determine when you have enough probable cause to search a vehicle. It’s not always immediately clear, and the decision-making process can seem ambiguous at […]
Does an Open Container Allow Further Search of a Motor Vehicle?
Today’s question comes from an officer in Texas. Here’s the scenario: A Texas officer conducts a traffic stop for speeding. While interacting with the driver, the officer observes a can of beer in the center console. The driver confirms that it’s an open beer. In Texas, an open container violation is not an arrestable offense, […]
Can Officer Seek Consent During a Traffic Stop Without Extending Stop Under Rodriguez?
I’ve got another great question from an officer in Surprise, Arizona, and I want to share it with you and provide my feedback. The question is: “Can officers still ask for consent to search a vehicle during a traffic stop without it being considered an extension of the stop for an unrelated reason, which would […]
Can You Run a Gun’s Serial Number During a Traffic Stop?
Today’s question is: Can you run the serial number of a firearm during a traffic stop? The answer is most likely yes, but there are some important caveats to consider. Lawful Seizure of a Firearm First, we know that if you lawfully seize a firearm—such as during a pat-down or a traffic stop—it is generally […]
US v. Rodriguez Traffic Stops and K9s
As I travel around the country teaching, I still find that many people either misinterpret or are confused about the Rodriguez case. So, let’s go back in time and clarify. Understanding Rodriguez v. United States Rodriguez is a Supreme Court case that held that officers cannot extend a traffic stop beyond its original mission to […]
Can Officers Go Check the VIN of a Potentially Stolen Vehicle?
Today’s question comes from an officer in Missouri: “Can officers go onto curtilage to check the VIN of a potentially stolen vehicle?” That’s the general question, but let me give you a bit more context. When I teach curtilage, I use something called the Curtilage Color Codes. I won’t go into full detail here—it’s a […]
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, […]
If the Driver Refuses to Roll Down Window, Can Cops Break It?
All right, can an officer break a window to remove a non-compliant driver? This question comes from an officer in Indiana. First, I want to apologize to this officer. This question was submitted a while ago, and unfortunately, it slipped through the cracks. That’s on me, and I appreciate your patience. I always strive to […]
Can You Order Someone to Roll-Down Their Window During a Traffic Stop?
Can an officer order a driver to roll down their windows during a traffic stop? This comes from an officer in Arizona, where it’s common for vehicles to have dark tinted windows, making it difficult to see inside. As the cover officer, are drivers required to roll down their windows? Since not being able to […]
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 […]
Conducting Warrantless Vehicle Searches
Today, I’m going to teach you the four essential elements you need before conducting a warrantless vehicle search. Element 1: Probable Cause This might seem obvious, but you must have probable cause to believe the vehicle contains contraband or evidence of a crime. Without this foundation, you cannot proceed with the search. Element 2: Lawful […]
Searching Bags Outside the Vehicle Under Carroll
So, I received a question from a cop in Texas. He says, “The discussion came up during our K9 training group about being able to search a person’s personal property—backpack, purse, etc.—if it was removed from the vehicle prior to the free-air sniff and alert by the canine. My understanding is that if the property […]