Can a police officer conduct a warrantless search of an automobile, including the containers within it, when they have probable cause to believe that the vehicle contains contraband or evidence of criminal activity?

MultiRegion, United States of America

The following excerpt is from United States v. Williams, 846 F.3d 303 (9th Cir. 2016):

Officers may conduct a warrantless search of an automobile, including containers within it, when they have probable cause to believe that the vehicle contains contraband or evidence of criminal activity. United States v. Ewing , 638 F.3d 1226, 1231 (9th Cir. 2011) ; see Wyoming v. Houghton , 526 U.S. 295, 302, 119 S.Ct. 1297, 143 L.Ed.2d 408 (1999) ("When there is probable cause to search for contraband in a car, it is reasonable for police officers ... to examine packages and containers without a showing of individualized probable cause for each one"). Probable cause exists when, based on the totality of the circumstances, there is a "fair probability that contraband or evidence of a crime will be found in a particular place." Illinois v. Gates , 462 U.S. 213, 238, 103 S.Ct. 2317, 76 L.Ed.2d 527 (1983).

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