# It's official: drug-sniffing dogs are a "search"

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-drug-sniffing-dogs-are-a-search/654025>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [March 26, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-drug-sniffing-dogs-are-a-search/654025 "2013-03-26T17:47:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![BrassyPhrase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea666f/32.png) [@BrassyPhrase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrassyPhrase)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-drug-sniffing-dogs-are-a-search/654025/21 "2013-03-28T02:44:05Z")

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> [@Peaton\_of\_peat](#):
>
> In a way this decision is disappointing, because it means we’re never going to have drug-sniffing dogs harnessed to drones flying over neighborhoods, the dogs barking whenever they pass over a house with drugs. 😛

I think you should pitch that as a new Law & Order show.

L&O Bloodhound Drone

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**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2013, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-official-drug-sniffing-dogs-are-a-search/654025/22 "2013-03-28T11:39:26Z")

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> [@Diceman](#):
>
> I think the general priciple is, if the police don’t have a warrant, then they can’t do anything that any random person wouldn’t be allowed to do. There’s nothing stopping you from knocking on someone’s door to ask them questions, but if you start searching their property without permission, you’re tresspassing.

That was the case before the decision. What changed was that just having a drug sniffing dog with you now is considered to be a search. A warrantless search of someones property was not allowed before this (except under those exceptions that have been previously set down by the court). Its a change but not a huge one.

If you are concentrating on the word “trespass” remember its a legal term but not necessarily a crime. Certain elements have to be present for it to rise to the level of criminal or defiant trespass.

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