“They Searched My Car. Can They Do That?”
You're driving. You see the blue lights. Your heart sinks. The officer walks up, asks for your papers, and then says, "Do you mind if I look in your trunk?"
What you say next is very important. The police cannot search your car just because they want to. They need "probable cause"—a real reason to think you have something illegal. But if you say "Yes," you have just given up all your rights.
You can, and should, say: "Officer, I do not consent to a search." Be polite. But be firm. If they search anyway, do not fight them. Do not resist. Let it happen. Our job, as your lawyers, is to fight them in court. If they had no legal reason to search your car, any "evidence" they found may be thrown out. This is called the "fruit of the poisonous tree."
We have decades of experience protecting our clients' rights. Know them. Use them.
