Is it legal to search a car just on suspicion of drugs? and if a person is giving a ride to someone and they get nailed for cocaine, does the person that's driving them also get charged with the same crime?  Even if they claim they knew nothing of the cocaine?
125949
In CA , if the police officer can develop probable cause, he can search your car. This was put in place due to the mobility of vehicles. They can simply drive away before you can get a search warrant.\n\nThe simplest example is the smell of pot. If the officer smells it, he can search anywhere in the car where the pot might be. Anywhere. \n\nAnother example is the plain sight rule. If the officer sees contraband in plain sight he can seize it and search your car for more. Anything else reasonably found during the search is also legally obtained.\n\nI don't know where the other posters got their information, but whether or not you are a minor has no bearing.\n\nAs for the cocaine issue, what crime did the driver get charged with? What are you talking about? If a passenger has drugs on them, it is possible that the driver could be charged for transportation of drugs. As for claiming they didn't know about the drugs, would it surprise you to know that people lie to the police??
13154
If you have done coke only one time.... It can be gone as soon as the next day. \n\nother drugs can/will stay in your system longer.\n\nWhen they are testing w/ hair, I under stand it to be much longer that they can find stuff in your system.
611937
Yes, they sure can.  The Police may arrest you with a complaint and then decide to drop the charges, often for lack of evidence.\n\nThere is no legal issue there.  However, consult with an attorney about the evidence issue.  Without probable cause the search should be invalid, therefore, the evidence would not be admissable.  No evidence surely would make the charge go away.  Good luck!
313587
Probably say nothing and hope it wasn't dirty money. If you told the taxi cab person they would just keep it (better me). Wasn't there some show on dateline or 20/20 were they left things in the back of taxi cabs (and such) to see if people were honest.
673402
You've written an awful lot of stuff here just to ask if the cops can pull someone over for "no reason."\n\nDoubtful.  \n\nIf the state you're writing about has a law that allows police to stop vehicles to check for current insurance (and for no other reason), then I would have to say the police can do that.  \n\nIf there's no such law in your state that allows that, it's going to be every bit as impossible to give you a good answer as Van Winkle says (and his was generally a very good answer).  You don't have anywhere near all the facts, so there's no way you can present them to anyone to get a decent answer.  \n\nAs for all the other stuff you wrote, did you have a question about it?  I see plenty of answers, but you never asked any questions.\n\nDon't get overly excited when you read people's answers here talking about search and seizure issues because based on what you wrote here, I doubt there are any.  \n\nPost more if you want to know more.\n\nEDIT 6.11.06:\n\nWow!\n\nOkay, let's see what we can do here.\n\nNeed to know what state you're in.  Sorry I didn't mention that before, I should have.  States have different laws, and the very best answer will come to you from someone who knows that State's law on these issues.  However, these are mostly constitutional questions, so I can probably give you some decent answers (because the Constitution applies in all states).\n\n1.  Generally, yes.  If it's stolen, it's contraband, and nobody has the right to possess contraband.  It would be like trying to argue that the police couldn't take your heroin without a warrant or consent...they can, because it's contraband.  NOTE: this is only as to the seizure of the item, not the search.  \n\n2.  Almost impossible to answer.  Really, none of these questions are all that "answerable," without knowing exactly what the facts were.  There are times when the police can enter uninvited and without a warrant, and there are times they cannot.  I wish I could go into this more with you, but you're talking about hours and hours of search and seizure law here, to be able to cover all the possibilities.\n\n3.  Your family can always file a complaint with the officer's employer.  I have no idea what the outcome of that could be, of course.\n\n4.  I don't know how you know "for sure" some of the property wasn't stolen, so it's difficult to address this.  Assuming you really do know the status of the property you're referring to, you should contact the law enforcement agency that seized the property and give them a statement as to the status of the property.  Do not waste your time by telling them things like, "it's my brother's, and my brother would never steal anything" or, "the neighbor gave it to my brother last year and my neighbor wouldn't have stolen it" because you just don't know those things to be 100% factual.  Perfectly innocent people can sometimes trade or give away stolen property without knowing it, but it doesn't mean the property isn't every bit as stolen.\n\nYou've repeatedly said that you stay out of the drama (wise decision, by the way), so I'm guessing that you really don't have all the facts.  If you weren't there at the time all this happened, you really aren't in a good position to know all the intimate details for certain, and it's the details that can really make a difference.  \n\nI don't know for sure that it's working, but if you'd like you're welcome to click on my avatar-thingy up there and contact me for some more discussion on this issue.  It's probably about to be beaten to death here, and I admire the reasonable tone of your questions.
604352
My husband is a deputy sheriff in a Florida county and this is what he said:  The person who is in possession of the drugs will be the one arrested.  However if the person that has possession of the drugs denies it being his and if "you" are the registered owner of the vehicle then both of you will be arrested.  At that point it would be up to the courts to sort out.  He says it happens quite a bit.  Usually one cops to it after they are both arrested.  He said that police aren't inclined to believe either one.  So if no one admits..They both go!
51887
They need probable cause to search your vehicle.  The smell of marijuana would give them probable cause.  There are special rules regarding vehicles, because it is so easy to drive them away:  warrants are not required where they would be if a car is not involved.  I'm not sure what they did with your trunk.  \n\nI've found a nice form for arguing that the search was unconstitutional.  MAybe it will help you:
401405
The police will impound your car if you are arrested in it, especially after a high speed chase, and it can be kept as evidence. If involved in other crimes, it can be subject to civil forfeiture (as with RICO and equivalent state laws).
111476
It is almost impossible to make any sense out of your question, but if you feel you need to report drug dealing by local police and fear going to other locals, you may contact the state police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, or the FBI, depending on the circumstances.\nYou should be aware that even if they are guilty and you can prove it, that will not exonerate you if you committed a crime.  You should also be aware that you may need to confess your own guilt in order to prove their's.\nAbove all, get a lawyer.
655278
Then both drivers "left the scene of an accident"  and that's not legal.  It may be your car but it's our highway(taxes)  and DLs aren't rights it is a privilege the state can and will revoke for little things.  A police report has to be made on State and Federal highways.  But hey, no cops no foul.  I'd take the $1000 and go too.
445890
If they find the car and have a lead, they'll follow it.  You don't have too much say except to express your belief that you are willing to press charges and will be willing to be a witness, provide evidence as necessary, etc.  And if you feel the police don't investigate or the D.A. doesn't prosecute, MOST jurisdictions have a police review board or an ombudsman that you can voice your grievance to.
637526
I disagree with most posters.  I would rather (if I had one) find a vial of cocaine than a gun.  Drug addiction can be treated much more easily than a tendency towards violence.  A found vial of cocaine does not prove they're addicted to the point that their life has crashed down so hard.  It's much easier to spot a habitual cocaine user than a gun owner.  \nIf a gun is found, it more-than-likely means it is an unregistered (or stolen) firearm.  Bad news.  \nIt's much easier to screw your life up with a gun (robbery, murder, accidental discharge, etc.) than it is with cocaine.  \nAlso, a teenager in possession of an illegal firearm is much more likely to be closer to a point of no return than a cocaine vial.  It's much easier to obtain cocaine than it is a gun.  This means that they must have jumped through quite some hoops to obtain the gun.   Trust me, you're much better-off finding some coke than a handgun in your teenager's room.
442966
The only question here is the legality of the stop.  The officer will have to be able to articulate why he stopped you and convince a judge that it was legal.  Factors such as the time of day he saw you sitting in the parking structure, any recent pertinent criminal activity in the area (car burglaries, drug dealing, etc.), exactly what movements he saw in the car, etc. will all be considered in determining whether or not the initial stop was legal.  \n\nIf the stop is deemed legal, the rest is a gimme.  Searching the car with consent, as you stated in your question, is all good.  All people in the vehicle can be charged with possessing contraband found in the car.  If someone "man's up" and claims possession, it is likely that the charges against the other parties would be dismissed.\n\nThe video from the police dash cam, if there is one, would be admissible.  Remember that it only records straight ahead and the officer could testify that what he saw was occurring out of the view of the camera.\n\nGood luck!
340756
The same questions they ask me.  Drivers license and proof of insurance.  If I don't have that, it's get out of the car.....I'm toted off to jail and my car impounded till I can provide the documents that are necessary.  I've had them shine a light in my car and hold my art eraser till it was determined it wasn't contraband.  I got some deal on my ticket for disrespecting an officer because I busted out laughing while he was sniffing my eraser.  I've had my car searched for no other reason than an outed tail light.  I've randomly had to be subjected to sobriety tests and a pat down.  Been in a car in which we were pulled over because the police thought the driver "looked funny".  We agreed, but the police officer didn't think it was funny.  I have been pulled over as a youth and had my parents called to see if they knew where I was.  I have been repeatedly pulled over time and time again by a cop because I drove a van that was considered the "type of vehicle" a drug trafficer would drive.  I've been pulled over because they wanted to be sure I wasn't being abducted since the passenger was a black person.  I've also turned a corner without putting on a turn signal and been let go.  I've had police officers help me when I was stranded on the side of the road without a question asked.\n\nI'd like to know when you aren't required to have your license on you when you are driving a vehicle!  I thought that was a basic rule#1.
155089
Unless you get a lawyer to contest the forfeiture it will happen.  They don't have to goto court under the law.  All they must show is that the money was tied into illegal operations.  This is a lower standard then finding you gulity of a crime.  If the money was tied into a drug business in any way, at any time then legally they can take it.
524694
Yes it is Alex B, and people are arrested for it quite frequently, it is also probable cause for a police officer to pull you over and search your vehicle looking for other doobies you may have forgotten to throw out.
182645
No, the police can't legally stop you "just because"...there must be at least be something known as reasonable suspicion.\n\nHowever, I have almost no idea what your question is because of the way you wrote it.  Any chance you can turn it into something that makes a little more sense?