When can a warrantless search of a vehicle occur?

Question

a
When the person has been arrested. Location does not matter
b
When the person arrested is within arms reach or near the car
c
The arresting officer reasonably believes that the car contains evidence pertinent to the same crime for which the arrest took place
d
Never. An officer needs a warrant to search a vehicle.

Answer 1

The correct answers are:

a. When the person has been arrested. Location does not matter c. The arresting officer reasonably believes that the car contains evidence pertinent to the same crime for which the arrest took place

Warrantless searches of vehicles are allowed under certain circumstances, including when the person has been arrested (and thus the vehicle may be searched as part of the arrest) or when an officer has probable cause to believe that the vehicle contains evidence of a crime. The specific limits and circumstances can vary by jurisdiction, but these principles generally align with established legal precedents like the automobile exception to the warrant requirement.