Can officers go through somones personal trash There is a thing called the Fourth Amendment or is it public property when it hits the curb?
2007-11-26 10:17:58 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Once it is discarded and at the curb, you no longer have a reasonable expectation of privacy to its contents. Anyone walking by could get into it, including the police. The Fourth Amendment does not apply.
2007-11-26 10:22:00 · answer #1 · answered by Citicop 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There used to be strict rules about this but in the last few years the. Supreme Court has really loosened the rules of evidence gathering. One decision created a precedent by allowing illegal evidence if the cop really believed that there had been a crime committed (or says he did), even though the 4th amendment makes a warrant a probable cause very clear.
The PATRIOT Act makes warrantless searches legal, and is the law of the land until the Supreme Court strikes it down in a test case. (You should live so long!)
2007-11-26 10:26:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Remember, the Fourth Amendment protects you from UNREASONABLE searches and seizures. Once you put it out for the garbage man, you're opening yourself to a bunch of strangers checking it out...including badge wearers.
You lose your expectation of privacy once it hits the curb. This is one reason that shredders have become so popular with people who are likely to have their trash checked out (suspects and famous people).
2007-11-26 10:38:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Fair game once it hits the curb -- this is why throwing out the body of your dead husband is a bad, bad idea.
2007-11-26 10:55:45 · answer #4 · answered by Susie D 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Public domain once its by the curb.
Read the book "Game of Shadows" about the Balco Steroid Investigation - this was where the investigators collected a ton of evidence.
2007-11-26 10:25:55 · answer #5 · answered by 2007_Shelby_GT500 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think once you put it out on the curb it is fair game.
2007-11-26 10:20:52 · answer #6 · answered by Dash 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No amyone can go through trash
2007-11-26 10:25:32 · answer #7 · answered by ♥NíKKí ♥ ♥GíRL♥ ™ 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no......not illegal
public domain when it hits the curb
2007-11-26 10:22:11 · answer #8 · answered by Rudy J 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Once you toss it out...it is up for grabs...if you are trying to hide something you need to keep it or shred it.
2007-11-26 10:36:38 · answer #9 · answered by lahockeyg 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what do you have in there anyway o.o
2007-11-26 10:25:25 · answer #10 · answered by :D 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋