When your car is stopped by police, you can feel overwhelmed, scared, and unsure about what to do. You might feel nervous about potential criminal charges. Knowing your rights is crucial, especially if the police want to search your car. In Illinois, they are sometimes authorized to search your car without a warrant, but there are specific legal conditions that must be met. Speak with a knowledgeable Illinois criminal defense lawyer to understand these rules and protect your rights.
When Do Police Not Need a Warrant to Search Your Car?
Under the motor vehicle exception to the Fourth Amendment, police can search a car without a warrant if they have sufficient reason to believe it contains evidence of a crime. Since vehicles are mobile, courts have ruled that the reduced expectation of privacy in a car justifies this exception.