Police in PA no longer need warrants to search automobiles.

[army judge]

Things have just changed in PA.

Where will this catch on next?

Previously, citizens could refuse an officer's request to search a vehicle. In most cases, the officer would then need a warrant — signed by a judge — to conduct the search.

That's no longer the case, according to the opinion written by Supreme Court Justice Seamus McCaffery.

The ruling, passed on a 4-2 vote, was made in regard to an appeal from a 2010 vehicle stop in Philadelphia.

Local police and legal professionals are calling the opinion "big news."




http://lancasteronline.com/news/loc...fc6-d077-11e3-8025-0017a43b2370.html?mode=jqm

 

[CdwJava]

I don't see it as all that earth shattering as it brings PA into line with established federal standards for probable cause (and the odor of a controlled substance such as marijuana), and recognizes the exigency inherent with regards to a vehicle. If the decision is unpopular, the PA legislature can always amend state law to prohibit a search of a vehicle based solely on probable cause. In most other states a search would already be permissible under the circumstances outlined in the linked article.

 

[army judge]

And many people tend to give their permission to search when asked anyway. I was surprised to see that PA wasn't more in sync with other states.

 

[CdwJava]

And many people tend to give their permission to search when asked anyway.

Quite true.

I was surprised to see that PA wasn't more in sync with other states.

Ditto. I would have thought they'd be in line with most others. But, every so often on this and other forums I discover that some states have idiosyncrasies that each of us consider peculiar based upon our individual experience, education and understanding.