Reading Assignment for Section 4.1

Read the following subsection from our online textbook: Section 4.1: Searches of Vehicles.

Note: This section spans multiple pages, so be sure to review all pages to fully understand the material.

What You Will Learn

In this section, you’ll explore the unique legal principles governing searches of motor vehicles under the Fourth Amendment. You’ll learn why vehicles have a reduced expectation of privacy and how the automobile exception allows for warrantless searches based on probable cause. Additionally, you’ll examine key topics like searches incident to arrest, inventory searches, and the controversies surrounding pretext vehicle stops, gaining a deeper understanding of how these practices are applied in real-world law enforcement.

Student Learning Outcomes for Section 4.1

• SLO 1: Explain the legal justification for the reduced expectation of privacy in motor vehicles under the Fourth Amendment, as established in Carroll v. United States (1925).
• SLO 2: Describe the automobile exception and its reliance on probable cause to conduct warrantless vehicle searches, citing key cases such as Illinois v. Gates (1983) and California v. Carney (1985).
• SLO 3: Analyze the rules governing searches incident to arrest of vehicle occupants, including the scope and limitations defined in Arizona v. Gant (2009).
• SLO 4: Evaluate the legal framework for vehicle inventory searches, emphasizing procedural safeguards outlined in South Dakota v. Opperman (1976) and Colorado v. Bertine (1987).
• SLO 5: Assess the constitutionality and controversies surrounding pretext vehicle stops, focusing on the precedent set in Whren v. United States (1996) and its implications for equal enforcement of the law.