You may have just been pulled over by a police officer and while trying to be cooperative, you consent to whatever the police officer requests without knowing you may be putting yourself at unnecessary risk. While it is a good idea to maintain a cooperative demeanor, it is vital to have a good understanding of your rights while undergoing normal procedures, such as traffic stops in Boulder, CO. Without probably cause, polices officers do not have the right to search your vehicle, whether you’ve been pulled over or not. Continue reading for more automobile search rules.
Being pulled over can be a scary experience, especially if it is the first time that it’s happened to you. Before a police officer can pull you over, he or she must have a reasonable suspicion that you have broken the law in some way or another such as speeding, not wearing a seatbelt, or another form of traffic violation. Police officers may obtain reasonable suspicion through a tip from another driver or pedestrian, though this may be disputed in court.
If you’ve been pulled over because of a traffic violation, this does not necessarily give the officer reason to believe you may be carrying illegal drugs or other items in your car. However, police officers do not have to have a warrant to search your vehicle. If you behave in a way that makes officers question you when being pulled over, this may give them reason to believe that your behavior is suspicious and you may in fact, be hiding something illegal in your vehicle. If you find yourself in this situation, be polite but request to speak with your lawyer. Many times, an officer’s reasons for searching your vehicle will not hold up in court. Contact Attorney Paul Stuber today at (303) 351-5140 to get advice from an experienced criminal defense attorney in Boulder, CO.
If a police officer suspects you may have drugs or other illegal items in your car, he may call another officer to bring a search warrant to legally search your vehicle. If there is nothing found in your car, you may have a case for discrimination as the officer probably did not have adequate reasons to search your vehicle in the first place.
If you think your car was wrongfully searched, contact Attorney Paul Stuber today at (303) 351-5140 for a free consultation to discuss the details of your case. Get the compensation you deserve.