Searches generally
USA v. Oaxaca, no. 99-30062 (9th. Circuit, 2000). Police cannot intrude into a home (or a garage) unless they have consent or a warrant (finding of probable cause by a judge). Even if a person is clearly visible inside a residence, police must have an arrest warrant to enter the premises and make an arrest.
Bond v. United States, US Sup Ct., no. 98-9349 (2000): While conducting immigration checks on a bus, a Border Patrol agent squeezed an opaque bag (“tactile search”) and found a brick of drugs. The Court ruled that this practice violated a person´s reasonable expectation of privacy as to their luggage.
United States v. Sandoval, no. 98-30130 (9th Circuit, 2000): Reasonableness of a search depends on whether defendant had a reasonable expectation of privacy. Warrantless search of a closed tent on Federal land ruled illegal.
Flippo v. West Virginia, US Sup. Ct., no. 98-8770 (1999), based on Mincey v. Arizona, 437 US 385 (1978): There is no “murder scene” exception to the search warrant requirement. N.Y. Times article
Wilson v. Layne, US Sup. Ct., no. 98-83 (1999): Media ride-alongs violate the 4th. amendment. Summary
Vehicle Searches
Indianapolis v. Edmond, US Sup. Ct., no. 99-1030 (2000): Vehicle checkpoints to interdict drugs are unlawful. Unlike DUI “highway safety” or border checkpoints, the purpose of drug checkpoints is to detect ordinary crime, which is subject to the “individualized suspicion” requirements of the Fourth Amendment.
USA v. Twilley, 9th. Circuit, no. 99-50338 (2000): Passenger in vehicle stopped by police can contest stop under Fruit of Poisoned Tree doctrine. “Reasonable suspicion” standard for a stop not satisfied when officer acts under “mistaken understanding of the law”, even if using good faith.
Florida v. White, US Sup. Ct., no. 98-223 (1999): If vehicle is forfeitable contraband no search warrant required to search it or seize it.
Wyoming v. Houghton.US Sup. Ct., no. 98-184 (1999): If there is probable cause to believe that a vehicle contains contraband, OK to search passengers´ belongings.
Knowles v. Iowa, US Sup. Ct., no. 97-7597 (1998): Cannot search a vehicle simply because the driver has committed a traffic offense.
Carroll v. United States, US Sup. Ct., 267 U.S. 132: No warrant is necessary to search a vehicle if there is probable cause it contains contraband or evidence of a crime. Lesser standard applied than for a dwelling because in a vehicle there is a lesser expectation of privacy.