Were there drugs discovered in your vehicle by the police?

Did the Police Find Drugs in Your Car?

Vehicles account for a large part of a police officer's responsibilities. Our law enforcement agencies are tasked with ensuring the safety of our highways and roads. This often involves stopping drivers suspected of breaking the law. In many highway encounters with the police, tickets and fines are issued as a result of routine traffic violations, but there are also more serious situations that end in an arrest. 

A police officer may stop a vehicle and find evidence of a crime inside. If the police discover contraband such as drugs in your car, a routine vehicle stop can quickly turn into a criminal investigation.

It is likely that you will be searched and arrested if the police find drugs in your vehicle. To be considered legal and valid, searches must follow strict rules and procedures. The majority of searches require a warrant, but there are many exceptions for vehicle searches, and searches can often be conducted without one. 

After you have been arrested and your vehicle has been searched, you should speak with a drug crime defense lawyer about your defense, including potentially challenging the validity of your arrest and search.

What Happens When the Police Search Your Vehicle for Drugs?

Generally, a search warrant is required before the police can search anything. If a warrant is issued, it must be based on sufficient probable cause that evidence of a crime will be found at a particular location, such as a person's home or car. Vehicles, however, can be moved quickly, so there is not usually time to obtain a warrant after a traffic stop. If certain conditions are met, the police can often search vehicles without a warrant.

When there is sufficient probable cause, the police may search a vehicle without a warrant. The police may search your vehicle and find drugs, but there must be probable cause to believe that drugs or other contraband are in the vehicle. This can often be determined by the driver's behavior. Those who appear intoxicated or high may have their vehicles searched. A search could also happen if the drugs were in plain sight, such as on the front passenger seat, or if the driver consents to a search.

In such warrantless circumstances, an officer might not legally search your entire vehicle unless you consent. It is important to have a lawyer examine the exact circumstances of the search to determine whether it was legal. 

Contact a Montgomery Drug Crime Defense Attorney

Your legal problems are just beginning if you are found with drugs in your car. You will likely be arrested and charged with drug possession or worse. Drugs found in your car are the most important piece of evidence in this kind of case, so an effective way to defend against such charges - when possible - will be to challenge the legality of the search and suppress the drug evidence. 

Criminal proceedings can be confusing and overwhelming. You should hire a criminal defense attorney from Luck Law LLC as soon as possible to help you deal with these charges. Contact us today for an initial consultation.