Free Republic

Pennsylvania police officers no longer need a warrant to search a citizen’s vehicle, according to a recent state Supreme Court opinion. The high court’s opinion, released Tuesday, is being called a drastic change in citizens’ rights and police powers.

Pennsylvania police officers no longer need a warrant to search a citizen’s vehicle, the state’s Supreme Court ruled Tuesday. Drivers in the state used to be able to refuse a warrantless search, but now their vehicles can be subject to search when a police officer determines there is “reasonable probable cause” to do so, the Intelligencer Journal reported. The high court’s ruling, passed on a 4-2 vote, is being called a drastic change in citizens’ rights and police authority, the paper said. “This is a significant change in long-standing Pennsylvania criminal law, and it is a good one,” said Lancaster...

According to this Seattle Times Story the senior deputy attorney general of Washington State, Steve Reinmuth, says that the state constitutional prohibition against vehicle searches without probable cause was "pre-empted by an order the Coast Guard issued yesterday." "Rear Adm. Jeffrey Garrett, commander of the Coast Guard's 13th District, said the order requires Washington State Ferries to comply with all federal maritime-security requirements effective July 1 — including physical inspections, if necessary. He would not provide a copy of the order, again citing security concerns."[Emphasis added ed.]