Deck 9: Vehicle Stops and Searches

Question 1

The minimum requirement for a valid vehicular stop to be valid is that the police have ________ of unlawful activity.

A) Certain knowledge
B) Reasonable suspicion
C) Preponderance of evidence
D) Probable cause

Answer 1

Reasonable suspicion

Question 2

A vehicle search after a valid stop requires ________ to be present for the search to be considered valid.

A) Mere suspicion
B) Reasonable suspicion
C) Preponderance of evidence
D) Probable cause

Answer 2

Probable cause

Question 3

Which of the following Supreme Court cases gave way to the so-called "automobile exception" to the warrant requirement?

A) Carroll v. United States
B) Weeks v. United States
C) Bond v. United States
D) United States v. Cortez

Answer 3

Carroll v. United States

Question 4

In United States v. Chadwick, the Court held that a warrantless search of a movable container found in a motor vehicle is invalid in the absence of ________.

A) Probable cause
B) Exigent circumstances
C) Reasonable suspicion
D) Exclusionary evidence

Question 5

Stopping an automobile at random and without ________ is unreasonable under the Fourth Amendment.

A) Mere suspicion
B) Reasonable suspicion
C) Probable cause
D) Exclusionary evidence

Question 6

Before a stop can occur, the totality of the circumstances must yield a particularized suspicion that contains:

A) The assessment of the situation must be based on an analysis of all of the circumstances
B) The whole picture must yield a particularized suspicion that the individual being stopped is engaged in criminal activity
C) Both of the above
D) None of the above

Question 7

In United States v. Ross, the Court ruled that when making a valid search of a car, the police may search:

A) Only the front of the car
B) The entire car but are not allowed to open the trunk
C) The entire car and the trunk but are not allowed to open packages or luggage found therein
D) The entire car and the trunk including opening packages found therein

Question 8

In Michigan v. Long, the Court ruled that a(n) ________ search of an automobile, after a valid stop, is permissible if the officer has a reasonable belief that the suspect is dangerous and might gain immediate control of a weapon.

A) Limited
B) Unlimited
C) Full
D) Quick

Question 9

Motor homes used on public highways are considered ________ for purposes of the Fourth Amendment.

A) Residences
B) Automobiles
C) Homes
D) Public

Question 10

Which of the following is not a reason why inventory searches without a warrant of the person and possessions of arrested individuals are permissible under the Fourth Amendment?

A) To protect an owner's property while it is under police control
B) To ensure against claims of lost, stolen, or vandalized property
C) To search for additional evidence that could be used against the defendant in court
D) To protect the police from danger

Question 11

Which case law stresses the importance of a carefully crafted departmental policy governing the opening of closed containers after vehicle impoundment?

A) California v. Carney
B) Florida v. Wells
C) Illinois v. Caballes
D) Chimel v. California

Question 12

The police may conduct a warrantless search of the passenger compartment of a car and of the contents therein if it is ________.

A) Incident to a traffic stop
B) Incident to the issuance of a traffic citation
C) Incident to a lawful arrest
D) Incident to an unlawful arrest

Question 13

In ________, the Court held that a traveler's luggage is an "effect" and is under the protection of the Fourth Amendment. This case defines the limit of what police officers can do to pieces of luggage and belongings of passengers.

A) Mapp v. Ohio
B) Arizona v. Gant
C) California v. Carney
D) Bond v. United States

Question 14

An anonymous 911 call that contains enough information to enable officers to corroborate its veracity and reliability is sufficient to establish ________ for an investigative stop.

A) Unquestionable suspicion
B) Conclusive suspicion
C) Reasonable suspicion
D) Probable cause

Question 15

The search of a vehicle is governed by rules that, over the years, have expanded the power of the police.

Question 16

The warrantless search of an automobile is valid if there is reasonable suspicion to believe it contains contraband.

Question 17

If probable cause exists that an automobile contains contraband, a warrantless search is valid even if the automobile is first moved to a police station.

Question 18

Evidence obtained from closed containers during inventory searches is not admissible in court unless authorized by departmental policy.

Question 19

Reasonable suspicion to believe that a container in an automobile holds contraband or seizable evidence justifies a warrantless search of that container, even in the absence of probable cause to search the vehicle.

Question 20

There is a need for a warrant in vehicle searches if the vehicle is readily movable, especially if there is time to obtain a warrant.

Question 21

Police officers with probable cause to search a car may inspect occupants' belongings found in the car that are capable of concealing the object of the search.

Question 22

Drivers in lawful possession or control of a rental vehicle, regardless of whether or not they are listed in the rental agreement, have a reasonable expectation of privacy.