(PA) Supreme Court: Pennsylvania cops no longer need a warrant to search citizens’ vehicles

[Nuclear Unicorn]

NOTE -- this is the Pennsylvania state supreme NOT the USSC.

Supreme Court: Pennsylvania cops no longer need a warrant to search citizens’ vehicles

Pennsylvania police officers no longer need a warrant to search a citizen’s vehicle, according to a recent state Supreme Court opinion.

The high court’s opinion, released Tuesday, is being called a drastic change in citizens’ rights and police powers.

Previously, citizens could refuse an officer’s request to search a vehicle. In most cases, the officer would then need a warrant — signed by a judge — to conduct the search.

...

Now, based on the opinion, it only takes reasonable probable cause for an officer to go ahead with a search without a warrant.

http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/supreme-court-pennsylvania-cops-no-longer-need-a-warrant-to/article_6a407fc6-d077-11e3-8025-0017a43b2370.html

Neck, meet Boot. Boot, Neck.

[RKP5637]

1. It's one step further down the road to a police state IMO. n/t

[onethatcares]

2. reasonable probable cause, while

we all know the banksters stole billions from we citizens but no one is searching their homes or cars with or without a warrant.

[msanthrope]

3. Yep..the automobile exception has been whittled away here in PA for a long time.

This is bad, and completely unsurprising news.

[FarCenter]

4. Not a big deal, since the US Constitution still applies

The district attorney said the ruling puts Pennsylvania in line with federal law and many other states.