In January 2025, two people were arrested after a Lake County K9, Duke, sniffed out drugs during a traffic stop. After conducting a “free air sniff” around the vehicle’s exterior, Duke alerted to the presence of narcotics. The police searched the vehicle and found over half a kilogram of cocaine powder.
Many people have not heard of a free air sniff, but there is plenty of controversy over the practice across the United States. If you have been arrested for drug possession after a free air sniff by a K9 and a subsequent search of your vehicle or home, it is important that you take these charges very seriously. It is in your best interests to speak to a knowledgeable Will County, IL drug possession lawyer.
What the Supreme Court Says About Free Air Sniffs by K9s
While the use of drug dogs is a fairly settled issue, two 2012 cases from Florida sought to change that. Drug dogs are allowed to sniff free air so long as they are not unlawfully in the location. To this end, the dogs are allowed to sniff packages, people, luggage, and vehicles so long as the K9 keeps his or her nose from actually touching a person, vehicle, luggage, or package, meaning the K9 is sniffing “free air.”