TexasCHLforum.com

I stand by my earlier statements.
If asked by a LEO "May I search your vehicle?"
Answer "No."

I did a google search on "automobile search police confiscated money" and found stories about some Law Enforcement Officers confiscating cash when they find it. Even when the people with the cash broke no laws. Some of the stories were heart wrenching. And some were as you would expect, stories about a drug dealer that had gotten off, just loosing "pocket change".

Sometimes I run shooting matches. When I do, I often come home "smelling like a man" and having more cash than I could replace without explaining to my bride. That money is "not mine", because it "belongs to the match". AND, I may not be at my most fluent state because I am tired and dehydrated. My answers to questions about that money may cause the LEO to confiscate it. I may also have 1000's of rounds of ammo and expensive assault weapons. It's pretty normal for me to have more guns in the truck than the truck is worth. (I also keep a change of clothes, a couple of jackets, my range bags, and some maps in the truck.) That would make me easy to vilify to the news media.

This is the circumstance that occurs to me when I think of a police officer asking "May I search your vehicle?"


I also think of the time my daughters fiancée had minor damage to his car during a DPS search of his vehicle. He was stopped because he was Hispanic and driving a nice car in East Texas.

I also think about how long it's been since my son cleaned out behind the seat of his truck. He is 20 and in college. I trust my son but not his friends.

I also think of my Brother-in-laws "bubba" buddy that got charged with a violation of the open container law because he got caught using a beer can as a spit can in his truck.


There are lots of stories on the internet. Some of them may even be true. However, when I run into web pages put up by criminal defense attorneys they consistently say "Just say no to searches."


I also think of Martha Stuart. She was convicted for lying to a LEO. In the news articles about the case, the reporters pointed out that while it's illegal to lie to a LEO, it's not illegal for them to lie to you.


All of this on the above is on the side of saying "No."


On the side of saying "Yes". You may save a little time If the LEO has Probable Cause and If he makes you wait while he gets a warrant.


I stand by my earlier statements.

Just so you know:
I DISPISE CONCENTUAL SEARCHES ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

Among other things I think the cheapen the value of the 4th amendment


The war on some drugs is really "The War on the Bill of Rights."

"if I have nothing to hide"
How do you know you don't have something to hide?
Becuase of your status as a Law Enforcement Officer, you may have a mental list of "All" the laws that this agency is currently enforcing.
I don't have that list.


As to saving some officers time, If they weren't out there doing these unreasonable searches they would save even more time.

So, who do you mean by "Us"?
Law Enforcement Officers or citizens of the United States?