Police officers who have established probable cause that evidence is likely to be at a certain place and who do not have time to get a search warrant may conduct a warrantless search based on exigent circumstances.

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This is known as the "exigent circumstances exception" to the Fourth Amendment's warrant requirement. It allows police to conduct a warrantless search if there is a pressing need to do so, such as to prevent the destruction of evidence or to apprehend a fleeing criminal. However, the police must still have probable cause to believe that evidence is at the location they wish to search.

Police Officers Who Have Established Probable Cause That Evidence Is