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New restrictions for police searches

New restrictions for police searches - Friday, April 24, 2009 at 5:40PM EST

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court reversed a decision against a man convicted of drug and gun possession.

This man was arrested in 1981, placed in a police cruiser and his car was searched without a warrant.

His case reversal will change the way police search cars.

Bill Bitterman of Wilkes-Barre knows what he would do if police asked to search his car.

"I'd sit there for 24 hours and make them get the search warrant," said Bitterman.

A new supreme court decision makes that standard in most car searches.

Pennsylvania State trooper Marty Connors says, "It shrinks down the area of the passenger compartment that can be searched without a warrant."

Trooper Connors showed us what police can and can't search under the new decision.

"I would say any center console that's in a vehicle, that would definitely be within the range. Any cup holders, any kind of item that might be up on the visors," says Trooper Connors.

Trooper Connors says anything within arms length of the driver can be searched.

Glove compartments and back seats, out of the drivers reach are off limits.

Some agree with that standard, like Beth Christian

"Well I think it's a good thing that they can't search a car, not that I have anything to hide. Yeah, but I mean it's good, I guess," said Christian.

Others like Bitterman say

"I don't think they should have a right to search the vehicles just from pulling people over. Because I feel most of the time they're profiling," said Bitterman.

But police say if there's reason to believe a car needs to be searched, a warrant will follow.

"If you have enough to arrest the person then you probably have enough to get a warrant for that vehicle," said Trooper Connors.

The case the supreme court overturned happened in 1981.
 


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