Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Massachusetts

A police officer knocked on my door and said "do you mind if I come in", I responded saying yes meaning I do mind, and he entered anyways. He then said that the room smelled like weed, and threatened to search my room. He told me to get my weed and I did, and then received a citation. I just want to know if what he did was in anyway illegal.


Asked on 2/08/10, 2:52 pm

2 Answers from Attorneys

Christopher B. Coughlin Coughlin Law Group, PC

If it happened like you said (and he had no warrant or exigent circumstances) then no, it was not a legal search. Your problem is that possession of less than an ounce of class d ("weed") is now a civil penalty of a fine. Illegal search or not you are going to have to pay the fine. If he founf a body under your bed they'd have problems.

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Answered on 2/13/10, 6:46 pm
henry lebensbaum Law Offices of Henry Lebensbaum (978-749-3606)

T^he cop is going to claim that you gave permission. The issue for you on a motion to suppress, eventually, is credibility. I agree that since this is a civil action, it will not get that far.

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Answered on 2/15/10, 11:18 am


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