Last night i was hanging out with a couple of my friends outside our appartments. When three undercover cops rolled up. Nobody was currently drinking nor were any beer cans visible. But 2 of them had backpacks on with beer inside. the police decided that they could look inside my friends backpacks with out consent. i didnt think they wuld have any reason to search. nobody was drunk or being loud. Can the police really do this?
I wasn't drinking and proved this when i blew a .00 but I feel for my friends that had drinks in their backpacks. i know underage drinking is wrong but what the cops did didn't seem right.
ps. please no fith degree about it being wrong. I already know.
2007-10-07 07:02:36 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law Enforcement & Police
If no one was charged with anything, there's not much you can do about it. If anyone was charged, they may have a good case to have the evidence thrown out (I hope it was a light beer). The police have a great deal of discretion, and if they know some of the group, and know they drink or have been charged with underage drinking before, that might be enough probable cause. Every state is a little different.
2007-10-07 07:10:25 · answer #1 · answered by thylawyer 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
If the police find you suspicious looking for any reason, yes, they can search your belongings. You HAD to have given them a reason to be there. Someone that you live around must have seen you guys outside and called the cops. They may have told them that you've been out there and been loud before..maybe not this time..but maybe before...
Sorry, this will be a tad 5th-degreeish...not only is underage drinking "wrong" as you put it...but it's illegal. If you are underage, the cops have every right to wonder what you're up to and make sure you aren't doing anything illegal...um, such as having alcohol in your backpacks.
Sorry. It is what it is.
If the cops had asked you to do something that was completely out of line..like strip on the spot...that would be different. They were doing their job.
2007-10-07 07:09:34 · answer #2 · answered by Beth 6 · 2⤊ 3⤋
If this was in the US, than yes they can do this, police can stop and frisk you or search a container that may contain a weapon, they don’t need probable cause to insure officer safety, but it sounds like they did have PC in the situation you described and so can go even further and conduct an investigation.
If this was many other counties the cops could have been a lot harder on you, most places don’t have 4th amendment rights like the US. Heck, if this was some Muslim countries the cops could have beaten you on the street with clubs legally for what you did!
2007-10-07 07:27:42 · answer #3 · answered by Magic Matt 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Its called "probable cause". Its all possible someone called the police, its possible the police saw one of your friends taking a drink. Also, you and your friends appeared to be suspicious being at night and having back packs. The police were there(especially 3 of them) for a reason.
2007-10-07 07:10:18 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
They can search for weapons for their own protection and if they find other illegal items in the course of that search then you are busted.
More than likely they were checking for curfew violations, gang activity, or drug dealers and you just happen to be sitting around with no apparent reason for being there.
It is unfortunate, but legal
2007-10-07 07:09:13 · answer #5 · answered by bonxaiboy 2 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Yeah they can, it's a backpack not like a house. I know it sucks, just reflect on this and use it as a lession. Good luck! I hope you didn't get in too much trouble!
2007-10-07 07:12:27 · answer #6 · answered by lauren 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
They sure can and not just to teenagers to anybody and if you try to say anything they will charge you . Best thing to do if drinking go to a friends house or some where far away.
2007-10-07 07:07:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
****** pigs THEY CANNOT DO THAT it is illegal search when they go to court everything will be dropped if they tell them what the cops did!
2007-10-07 08:52:02 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
thanks to george w bush it is perfectly legal to do this entranpment is no more and now every united states citizen is suffering phone taps without warrants. all because of a search for terrorist our basic rights and freedoms were given away
2007-10-07 08:58:42 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 3⤋
yes they can if they see you guys suspicious they are able to stop and search
2007-10-07 07:09:55 · answer #10 · answered by Andrew L 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋