Police can search you or your car if there is a reason to suspect you of something, or if you have been arrested. He can also search if you allow him to. Nothing should happen if he asks and you refuse. Information here: http://www.nolo.com/article.cfm/catId/268BB6A8-8884-4677-89869B6AD8A75ADA/objectId/7B8C1C59-C365-4443-B5A8C00DFFA8D44D/104/143/127/QNA/

It depends on how you handle it, and what the officer can see and or smell in the car from the window. Here are some tips on how to protect yourself, and how to respond to police questions.

very useful, answer by accident...delete

Useful information can be found here: http://www.nolo.com/article.cfm/catId/268BB6A8-8884-4677-89869B6AD8A75ADA/objectId/7B8C1C59-C365-4443-B5A8C00DFFA8D44D/104/143/127/QNA/ If the officer issues you a citation and has no basis to suspect that you are armed and dangerous or involved in criminal activity, the officer cannot search you or your car. Of course, if the officer does see something suspicious, then the law allows the officer to do a "pat-down" search of you and of the passenger compartment of your car. The police officer can also "frisk" (feel the outside of) any purses, bags, or other things in the car that could hold a weapon. But, if you allow the officer to search you or your car, then the search will normally be considered valid -- even if there were no solid reasons behind the officer's request. Many people don't realize that they can refuse a search. But, as you no doubt know, it's not easy to say "no" to someone who is wearing a gun and scary reflective glasses. Be aware, however, that laws in many states authorize police officers to arrest drivers for minor traffic offenses, such as speeding or failure to wear a seat belt. If a police officer does choose to arrest a driver, then the officer can conduct a search.

If the officer has probable cause to search your automobile and you refuse, your auto will be held, while the officer seeks a search warrant. If the officer believes that you are transporting illegal drugs, he will summon a drug dog for a search. all fruits of this search are admissable in court. Bottom line...if you are not guilty of any illegal acitivty in your automobile, you should not object to a search, providing the officer has probable cause.

I wouldn't let the police search my car. Every cop uses that line that if you are not guilty then why won't you let me search the car. Too many crooked cops out there that will plant something. If you let him search the car then it is valid as the courts will believe him/her over you.

Search of motor vehicles: the 4th amendment protects you under search and seizuer law, however A police officer pulls you over for speeding and a subsequent traffic citation is issued or a written warning or a verbal warning is issued to the driver. the officer may now ask you simple questions as to wether you have any illegal substances or weapons in your vehicle. If your answer NO.. the officer may still ask you if he can conduct a search of your motor vehicle. If you allow the officer to search your car he or she may do so and only to the point you ask them to stop, unless they found something illegal, other wise the officers must stop the search at that time. However if, during the officers investigation they happen to see something illegal or suspicious in PLAIN VIEW he may conduct a lawful search of the vehicle without your permission. Also if for some reson your or anyone in you car is arrested for anything, the officers now have what is called SEARCH INCIDENT TO ARREST. the vehicle is now subject to a complete search. If you are stopped and there is illegal narcotic or parphernailia in the car and it is not in plain view of the officers, a K-9 may be called to the scene at anytime to walk around your vehicle. K-9's are trained to smell any amount of narcotics no matter how small and it doesn't matter where it is the K-9 will hit on the smell and alert the officers that narcotics and or paraphernalia are present in the vehicle. Now...you, your car and everyone in it is subject to probable cause search. All of which leads to an arrest.

No officer can search our car without probable cause--unless you are too stupid to say "No, officer. You may not search my car. My 4th ammendment rights protect me in my automobile just as they do my home. If you do not have a warrant, issued by a Judge, and have no probable cause--which I certainly assert you do not have--then any search would be illegal." ---- OK, then he says "Do you have something to hide?" and you reply "Officer, I am protecting my 4th ammendment rights against an unlawful transgression. Please call your duty officer or the sergent on duty to act as a witness who can declare what justifiable probable cause you are claiming in order to search the vehicle of an American citizen who has only been stopped for a minor traffic offense. Do you make warrantless searches of all vehicles stopped for traffic offenses? Or am I being singled out for some profiling reason? If you are not searching all stopped vehicles then that may be an unequal enforcement of the law. Again, I see no probable cause here and refuse to allow a search without a warrant authorizing such a search. A warrant would have to explain what your probable cause is and what it is you are looking for."

If an officer has probable cause to search your car he usually won't ask for your permission. If an officer is asking for your permission it almost always means he does not have probable cause. Thus, refusing to allow a search will cause the officer to look hard for probable cause, but will most likely result in him doing nothing.

Ok, so we'll assume that you were pulled over for a slight speeding infraction for which the cop can give you a citation but not arrest you. He asks to search your car, and you refuse. Here are the possibilities: Cop has a reasonable articulable suspicion that you are armed: he can order you out of the vehicle and perform a "Terry" pat down (named after the case of Terry v. OH) along the outside of your clothes to check for weapons. This is justified as a measure that protects the officer's safety. If he feels anything incriminating, he can perform a full search under the "plain feel exception." Cop has probable cause that the car contains contraband: cop can search the entire vehicle, including the trunk, including any containers inside that could contain what he's looking for. If contraband is found and nobody takes responsibility for it, all of the vehicle's occupants can be arrested due to the assumption that the interior of the car is collectively controlled by the occupants. Cop arrests you for a crime: cop can search the entire interior of the vehicle, but not the trunk. This search can include closed containers. Your car is impounded: cops can search and inventory everything in your car, including the trunk, and including closed containers, as long as the search is done pursuant to established procedures. This all applies if the cop pulls you over and you exit your vehicle in an attempt to make your vehicle unsearchable.

If the police pull you over and asks to search your vehicle you have the right to say no. The down side to this most people don't know is that police can hold you there until a drug dog unit arrives to do a sniff around of the outside of your car (public property). If the dog then alerts officers of drugs in the vehicle than all rights off. The police now can arrest and do a front to back search of the vehicle. Probable Cause / Plain View

If they have probable cause (very vague) you will be booked and your car will be confiscated until a search warrant can be obtained. You will have to pay to get your car out of the impound and the towing fee. If you are innocent you will sue the police for harassment and get reimbursed. The officer will be put on admin leave for one day and you will get the money back for the fees after 8 to 10 weeks. Then you will be pulled over every week for your senior year in high school. Until you get a new car with different plates.

when you got your drivers licence, you were agreed to have your car searched at any time for any reason

I'm pretty sure they have the right to take you in then, just like if you won't consent for a breathalizer.

I should start keeping those jars of fake candy that has those "spring snakes" pop out when you open it. And when the cop asks to search my vehicle I'll say "sure, go ahead, but don't open the jar of peanut brittle!" of course he is going to open it! Lol

lol no they cant take you in if you rufuse...i always refuse if i dont have anything on me...if i do i allow the search so he wont bring drug dogs i have a hiding spot most cops couldnt find without a drug dog

one of two things. one they will call HQ and get a search warrant and search your car anyway two they let you go with a hold you up for a while and give you a ticket for something else

i think if you have nothing to hide let them as if you refuse they,ll think you have something to hide and they only stop you if they think somethings not right i dont think you can stop them with out getting arrested