Is a warrantless search of a car reasonable within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment?

California, United States of America


The following excerpt is from People v. Lorrain, C077758 (Cal. App. 2016):

A warrantless search of an automobile is reasonable within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment when an officer has probable cause to believe the vehicle contains contraband. (United States v. Ross (1982) 456 U.S. 798, 824 [72 L.Ed.2d 572, 593].) "If probable cause justifies the search of a lawfully stopped vehicle, it justifies the search of every part of the vehicle and its contents that may conceal the object of the search." (Id. at p. 825 [72 L.Ed.2d at p. 594].) Whether there is probable cause to search a car is governed by the same standards as any other probable cause determination: could a neutral and detached magistrate make a decision, considering the totality of the circumstances, "including the 'veracity' and 'basis of knowledge' of persons supplying hearsay information, [that] there is a fair probability that contraband or evidence of a

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