# Complementary Drug Search?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/complementary-drug-search/600353>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [October 21, 2011, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/complementary-drug-search/600353 "2011-10-21T13:00:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/complementary-drug-search/600353/1 "2011-10-21T13:00:21Z")

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The US Coast Guard is allowed to board any ship-like thing in the US without probable cause or a warrant. A person on a boat has no reasonable expectation of privacy, the courts have ruled.

Further, they can seize any ship-like thing that has any trace of drugs aboard. So what ought I to do when I buy my (used) luxury yacht? May I call the local police and ask to borrow a drug dog for the afternoon? Should I do this before or after I complete the sale?

I mean it is a big investment, and I would like to reduce the risk.

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**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/complementary-drug-search/600353/2 "2011-10-21T13:09:27Z")

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I guess you could have it done first, as a condition of sale. If the current owner baulks it would make me suspicious.

There are [private companies](http://www.sniffdogs.com/) that do drug searches for parent who’d like their child’s room examined. So no need to involve the authorities.

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**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/complementary-drug-search/600353/3 "2011-10-21T16:54:46Z")

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I took a used minivan we had purchased down to the pass office at base, and while getting the DoD stickers for it asked if I could get the dogs to sniff it over to make sure it wasn’t hiding something. But then again, I bought it at a police impound lot sale. Took about 15 minutes to get the dog and handler to come over and run the dog around the caravan. I would imagine that if you asked the local cops if they could check out a vehicle for you they probably would.

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**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/complementary-drug-search/600353/4 "2011-10-21T17:35:58Z")

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Before you purchase, place an anonymous call to the authorities about the shipment of drugs being smuggled on the yacht. It will still be for sale afterwards, but possibly by a different seller.

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**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2011, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/complementary-drug-search/600353/5 "2011-10-21T20:04:55Z")

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Moved from General Questions to IMHO.

**samclem** Moderator