Are the police able to search my vehicle without a warrant?
As a general rule, no. The police have become accustomed to searching a person’s vehicle after an arrest calling it an “inventory” search. Recent U.S. Supreme Court case law has limited the types of searches the police can conduct of a citizen’s vehicle without a warrant but the police continue to routinely search cars without warrants.
Ray Lopez has practiced since 1990, with prior experience as a Hillsborough County assistant State attorney and lawyer for the Tampa Police Department. He handles all criminal charges, from traffic violations and misdemeanors to serious felonies and federal drug charges. He practices in all state and federal courts of the Tampa Bay area and throughout Florida, as well as criminal appeals, juvenile court, administrative hearings, and civil forfeiture proceedings.
