Supreme Court Puts New Limits on Vehicle Searches.

[elleng]

'The Supreme Court on Tuesday put new limits on the circumstances under which police officers who lack a search warrant can search a vehicle immediately after the arrest of a suspect.

Officers who lack a warrant may search the passenger compartment of a vehicle after an occupant is arrested only if it is reasonable to believe that the person arrested could still gain access to the vehicle, or if the vehicle contains evidence relevant to the arrest, the court said.'

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/22/us/22scotus.html?_r=1&hpw

[imdjh]

1. So today they are intelligent and correct

That's how it works. I agree with them, and they are intelligent and correct. If they had ruled the other way they would have been a bunch of idiots. But these are the same people who OK'd checkpoints if I am not mistaken.

Justices David H. Souter and Ruth Bader Ginsburg joined Justice Stevens’s opinion, as might be expected, but so did Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas, who often differ with their more liberal colleagues.

Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. dissented, as might be expected, and he was joined by Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. and Justice Anthony M. Kennedy — but also by Justice Stephen G. Breyer, who is typically placed in the court’s liberal wing.

An objection I have to police culture is that they feel that they have a mandate or a doctrine which directs what they ought to be allowed to do, ie that they NEED to do whatever is necessary to catch criminals. What they don't get is that I am not going to say, "You are a worthless bunch of overpaid jerks." if their arrest and conviction stats go down. I don't want to see them do "whatever is necessary" when it means running roughshod over the US Constitution. I sometimes think they don't require knowledge of the Fourth Amendment to get a badge.

[NowHearThis]

3. Mr. Bierce's take on police

"POLICE, n. An armed force for protection and participation."

[patriotvoice]

4. They don't need to know the Fourth Amendment: only statutes in the enforced jurisdictions.

I know many fine LEO, most of whom are adamant about the Constitution and individual liberties, so much so that they carry (as I do) copies of the Constitution. I can't speak for other departments, but I do know that the sworn force draws three types of people:
1. Those who desire peace and justice
2. Those who want power and "respect"
3. Those who enjoy adrenaline

I do not know the distribution, but I bet category #2 and #3 exceeds #1.

[NowHearThis]

2. The new limits are weaker than water

Our Supreme Court is an embarrassment.