Can cops come in your house?

Question

Ok, lets say that you are having a party and the neighbors call the cops on you for being too loud or whatever. Well, when the cops come, you do not want to answer the door because everyone is underage. So, the question is, if they knock, can you just not answer the door? Just lock the doors and shut the blinds? Some people say they will bust the door down, but they cant do that without a warrant can they? What would you do in this situation?

And lets say I do answer the door and have everything hid, can I just answers a couple questions(or not, thats my right too) and say they cant come in and that we will be quiter, and would that be it?

Answer 1

I wouldn't want to enter. Those calls are such a pain in the ***. Just answer the door and they will tell you the party is over, or you need to control the party. I just tell kids to keep it down.

If you play that BS game of closing the blinds and playing possum, you don't even want to know the hell that LE can bring down on you and your friends. If I were motivated to, by an asshole closing the blinds, my team and I would sit on that house all night/morning and hit every single person leaving. Everyone would get a citation for something, and we have ALOT of things we can cite for.

Just be a responsible young adult and open the door and speak to the cops. It'll be over in 2 minutes.

Answer 2

You got a few things going on here. The first thing is underage drinking the second is the noise. You are already in a world of trouble why create more by not answering the door. The cops aren't just going to say "Well he locked the door I guess we should leave now". There is also a thing called probable cause. Giving them the leeway to bust down the door without a warrant. (Then they can say you probably caused it by locking the door.). Suggestion don't serve underage drinkers, invite the neighbors to the party (they can't complain if they are living it up to)

Answer 3

We didn't break in unless we knew someone was in harms way, such as a fight going on etc. We just ran all the plates on cars around the house and started calling moms and dads. The mom and dad would come to the scene and watch little Sally and Johnny give the Police the finger through the window.

Johnny and Sally's parents would actually get more pizzed than the cops. They probably didn't do anything to them later but the young-ins left when mom and dad showed.

Worked all the time. Wake up mommy and daddy so they can watch Junior being an azzhole. Actually better than video since mom and dad were right there in living color.

Answer 4

First of all everyone keeps throwing out "probable cause", the cops need "probable cause", the key is probable cause for what. It would have to be PC to believe some type of exigent circumstance like someone is in danger of some sort not just PC for any type of crime. Also for the people who keep throwing the "Patriot Act" into these answers that is just bull, your local police do not use the Patriot Act for anything.

Heres the real deal. Police can only enter without a warrant for a few reasons; to ensure safety, to prevent the destruction of evidence, fresh pursuit of a suspect, or a few other exigent circumstances. If when the officers arrive and you just absolutely refuse to come to the door you are probably just making it worse for you. Depending on the actual complaint no one coming to the door may give the officers cause to enter to make sure that there is no problem inside, say if the neighbors called to report "people yelling". Also if no one comes to the door this is just really going to p*ss off the officers and they are likely going to set up on your house indefinately and make it a point to get you charged with something.

The best thing to do is answer the door and let the officers address the problem with you. Be polite, tell them you will quiet things down and do so, because if they come back you will be going to jail, if you dont answer the door if they have to come back they will get a warrant and will let themselves in if they have to. These types of calls are routine and most officers will just want to take care of the noise issue. The whole process can be quick if you are cooperative, they will give you your warning and leave. If you try to screw with them they can really mess with you.

Again everything depends on what the actual complaint is. Say instead of a "noise" complaint the caller says that there are several drunk minors inside. Then the officers respond to a different kind of complaint and could possibly justify going into the house in order to "check welfare" (since a bunch of drunk minors can lead to bad things) or to prevent destruction of evidence of a crime and secure the house until they can get a warrant. This would depend on all of the information involved and the totality of the circumstances.

A correction to paragraph 3 "the best thing to do" is to not have underage people drinking at your house. Getting caught and charge with providing them alcohol or providing a place for them to consume is minor compared to the other possible problems. If one of those minors should happen to die or alcohol poisoning, get hurt at your house, or get into a wreck and die after leaving your house you can be charged with a felony and spend many many years in prison.

Answer 5

No but they can wait outside while a warrant is being authorized and then break the door down. Especially true if they have reason to believe there are drugs or alcohol being consumed by underaged people.

Answer 6

Well, congratulations! You committed theft! Now they have proof that you did it and used the money to buy something. Yes, you could be arrested. Depending on the amount of money you stole, it could be a felony. The dollar amount is typically $300 or more for it to be a felon, but it can vary by state, many of which use the $100 amount as the dividing line. There is also a law in most states that requires you to turn found property over to the police and failure to do so is a crime in itself. ...and no, most people wouldn't do that. Most people believe in the idea that we treat others as we would want to be treated and most people would like their money back along with the wallet. Most people try to do the right thing and not the selfish thing.

Answer 7

You must respond or they have the right to break down your door because there is an unknown emergency. But if you answer the door and the cops ask to come in your house, you have the right to tell them no unless they have a warrent. It was on 20/20.

Answer 8

If they have probable cause they can enter. That is if they think a crime is in progress. This is helpful if someone is trying to do something illegal to you in your home. Otherwise they need a search warrant. Also, if they have your permission then can enter. Choose your battles wisely. Since, you may get off lightly if you cooperate.

And, I do believe a loud party is probable cause. Since, many areas have maximum decibel ordinances. And, they may suspect you have minors drinking.

Answer 9

The best thing to do is just answer the door and tell them you'll be quieter. Cooperate, cooperate, cooperate. Be friendly, polite and don't act all paranoid.
And yes, you can keep them out. When they ask if they can come in, you can say No if you really feel you'll get in trouble from what they see but if I were you and nothing illegal is going on, I'd let them in. If illegal stuff is going on, then exercise your right to keep them out. They rely on the fact that they are intimidating. Don't be scared; they are public servents. YOU'RE the public, dude.

Answer 10

In my state, if the police have reasonable suspicion that a felony is in progress, they do not need a warrant. Otherwise they can get in trouble for violating your rights. But I have seen them do it anyway just to diffuse a situation immediately. They just ask questions later. Be careful, and remember that you must continue to live next to your neighbor.