Legal Question in Criminal Law in Massachusetts

Re: ''can they search me like that?''

The police did search you, and they did charge you with a crime. The question to be asked now is whether the search was legally justified, and if it was not, what to do with respect to the evidence against you. There are legal requirements for searching you and your car, which if not met, could result in the suppression of the evidence that was found. If the evidence is suppressed, it cannot be used in a court proceeding against you. This is a very tricky area of the law. Usually, but not always, there is a dispute about the facts that led up to the search. You need an attorney to examine the police reports, to explore further your memory of the facts, and then to consider what steps to take in Court to protect you. If there were any witnesses to the event, you should write down their names while your memory is fresh. It is also helpful to write down what you remember about the situation, while you still remember details. Write down everything you can remember, the smallest thing might become important later.

Re: ''can they search me like that?''

On the basis of the data, you need counsel to file a motion to suppress. However, to provide a better answer, I would need more information.