Can Police Search a Bag in Your Car Without a Warrant? | California v. Acevedo and 4th Amendment

17 Dec 2025 • 7 min • EN
7 min
00:00
07:03
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Can police search a bag in your car without a warrant? The Supreme Court says yes—and this decision affects thousands of traffic stops and drug arrests every year. In California v. Acevedo (1991), the U.S. Supreme Court expanded the automobile exception to the Fourth Amendment, allowing police to search containers inside a vehicle if they claim probable cause—even without a warrant. But probable cause is often overstated, misunderstood, or flat-out wrong. I’m a criminal defense attorney, and in this video I explain: When police can search your car or a bag inside it When a warrant is still required How officers misuse the automobile exception How illegal searches can lead to suppressed evidence and dismissed cases If you were stopped, searched, or arrested after a traffic stop, drug investigation, or vehicle search, this case may determine whether the evidence against you is constitutional—or throw-outable. 📍 Facing criminal charges? Do not assume the police search was legal. An experienced defense attorney can challenge probable cause, stop unconstitutional searches, and protect your rights. 👉 Contact a criminal defense lawyer immediately if police searched your vehicle or personal property. Read more here: California v. Acevedo, 500 U.S. 565 (1991), https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/500/565/#tab-opinion-1958783 Anton Vialtsin, Esq. LAWSTACHE™ LAW FIRM | Criminal Defense and Business Law https://lawstache.com (619) 357-6677 Do you want to buy our Lawstache merchandise? Maybe a t-shirt? https://lawstache.com/merch/ Want to mail me something (usually mustache related)? Send it to 185 West F Street, Suite 100-D, San Diego, CA 92101 Want to learn about our recent victories? https://lawstache.com/results-notable-cases/ If you"d like to support this channel, please consider purchasing some of the following products. We get a little kickback, and it does NOT cost you anything extra: *Calvin Klein Men"s Dress Shirt Slim Fit Non-iron, https://amzn.to/3zm6mkf *Calvin Klein Men"s Slim Fit Dress Pant, https://amzn.to/3G8jLQG *Johnson and Murphy Shoes, https://amzn.to/3KmfX0Y *Harley-Davidson Men"s Eagle Piston Long Sleeve Crew Shirt, https://amzn.to/43gFtMC *Amazon Basics Tank Style Highlighters, https://amzn.to/3zwOEKZ *Pilot Varsity Disposable Fountain Pens, https://amzn.to/40EjSfm *Apple 2023 Mac Mini Desktop Computer, https://amzn.to/3Km2aGC *ClearSpace Plastic Storage Bins, https://amzn.to/3Kzle5q Are you are a Russian speaker? Вы говорите по-русски? https://russiansandiegoattorney.com Based in San Diego, CA Licensed: California, Nevada, and Federal Courts The San Diego-based business litigation and criminal defense attorneys at LAWSTACHE™ LAW FIRM are e...

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