Officer Franklin may search the container without a search warrant even though she lacks probable cause to search the car as a whole and only has probable cause to believe that the:

Question

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The Supreme Court has held that if officers have probable cause to believe that a container found in a vehicle contains contraband or evidence, they may search that container without a warrant, even if they do not have probable cause to search the entire vehicle. This is known as the "automobile exception" to the warrant requirement. Therefore, Officer Franklin may search the container without a warrant if she has probable cause to believe that the container itself contains contraband or evidence.

Officer Franklin May Search the Container Without a Search Warrant