Legal Question in Traffic Law in Virginia

traffic stop and search

if you are stopped by the police and they ask if they can search your vehicle and you say no, can they search any way in a locked compartment of the car?


Asked on 10/31/08, 4:24 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
James Bullard James A. Bullard, Jr., P.C.

Re: traffic stop and search

Short answer is it depends. If the officer has probable cause to arrest you, he can search the passenger compartment of your vehicle and do a complete inventory search of the vehicle as well. If he has a reasonable suspicion that there is contraband in the car, he can search in areas where that contraband might be found.

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Answered on 10/31/08, 4:27 pm


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