Category Archives: Drug Possession
How Far Can Police Go in Asking “Public Safety” Exceptions During a Traffic Stop?
A police officer is supposed to give a Miranda warning to a suspect before initiating a custodial interrogation of a criminal suspect. The courts have long recognized an exception to this rule, however, for matters involving “public safety.” For example, if during a traffic stop, an officer sees something they think might be an… Read More »
Can the Police Really Use a Battering Ram to Break Down My Door?
We have become all too accustomed to seeing stories on the news of police aggressively breaking down people’s doors–often using military equipment like battering rams–just to execute a search warrant. In many cases, the police seemingly do not bother to even announce their presence before busting down a door. But is such conduct really… Read More »
Can the Police Order You to Exit Your Car Before a K-9 Search?
In 2015, the United States Supreme Court held in Rodriguez v. United States that “[a]bsent reasonable suspicion, police extension of a traffic stop in order to conduct a drug sniff violates the Constitution’s shield against unreasonable seizures.” In other words, if an officer pulls you over to issue a traffic ticket, the officer cannot… Read More »
