Date: Thu, 8 Apr 99 14:04:49 EDT
From: "Brian J. Callahan" <Brian=J.=Callahan%MT%DFCI-AT-EYE.DFCI.HARVARD.EDU>
Subject: re: to all you americans


>to all people who are residing withing america, i ask a question. is it true 
>
>that the supreme court recently passed something that states that it is now >
>legal and proper for police to search your car without a warrent?            
>
There was a recent Supreme Court decision that upheld the Constitutionality 
of searching the handbag of a passenger when a policemen caught the driver 
with a syringe and heroin (the syringe was sticking out of his pocket--
probable cause...sorry diabetics the 4th amendment won't be applying to you).

Ther police found illegal narcotics in the handbag, which the passenger had 
left in the car.  If the passenger had kept it with her, it's unclear whether 
the police could have legally searched it.