What are some of the ways police are using infrared cameras?

Question

What are some of the ways police are using infrared cameras? How have courts ruled on evidence obtained with infrared cameras?

Answer 1

I am not sure what the case name is, but the Supreme Court has ruled that infrared cameras cannot be used to get information that could not been seen from the outside, unless a search warrant has been issued. Essentially, police cannot use infrared cameras to probe your house without a search warrant. There is, of course, exemptions to this ruling like the use of infrared cameras at airports or public buildings.

The case stemmed from evidence gathered using an infrared camera which found heat lamps inside the basement of the house. Police then executed a search warrant obtained from the infrared evidence and found, to no one's surprise, a large marijuana growing operation in the basement. The evidence was thrown out of criminal court because the search warrant was issued based on evidence obtained by an illegal search (the use of the infrared cameras). The Supreme Court agreed with this decision.