RE: Cops Tailgating

[Don Hoefer <hoefer@jaxom.eng.pko.dec.com>]

Alex asks:

> Do they have the right to search the car without a search warrant?

Bob Myers replies:

> No - they do not!

I believe that they can if there is "probable cause"; ie. illegal
materials visible through the window, or suspected drunk driving
(to look for booze), or you look just like the guy who robbed the
bank ten minutes ago.

This was in the news recently.  The Justice department was petitioning
the Supreme court to lower the requirements for automobile searches.
The justices weren't going for it the last time I read about it.

Of course practice is much grayer than the law sometimes.

Don Hoefer
'82 Coupe

P.S. Comments from any legal types out there?