DO I HAVE TO LET A POLICE OFFICER SEARCH ME OR MY CAR WHEN ASKED?

The answer is a resounding “no.”

Many people feel they have to consent to a police officer’s request to search their car; however, there must exist certain reasonable or probable cause before a police officer can do so without a warrant or consent.

The common way a police officer gets around this requirement is to ask a person “what will I find if I search you or your car?” or “is there anything in the car I should know about?”

These questions should be answered with a polite “I do not believe I should answer that question without speaking to a lawyer.”

Always, deny a request to search you or your motor vehicle.