Can a officer search your purse without your consent to get your ID?

Question

My boyfriend got pulled over for no reason and the police officer asked him and me to step out of the car. As I stepped out of the car he asked me for my ID and I said it was in my purse, I told the office I would get my ID out of my purse but he said no I will get your ID from your purse.

Answer 1

No, what he did was illegal.  Unless he had a warrant or probable cause he has no reason to go through your things.  If a officer asks you to get out of the car, get out and close and lock all the car doors.  If he asks to search your vehicle or your personal belongings you have a right to ask for the reason, and you also have the right to deny the officer access without a written warrant.

Answer 2

Yes, he could, but not under normal circumstances.

He would have to be able to articulate a suspicion that letting you go into your purse would be a safety issue, such as something that led him to believe you had a weapon.

Answer 3

I am not sure legally he can ask for your ID. He didn't pull you over and has no probable cause to ask. He was looking for drugs, which constitutes an illegal search!

Answer 4

They never,never ask someone to step out of the car if they have no suspicions.

There is more to the story than you are telling us, or your boyfriend is telling you.

Answer 5

Were you being arrested or suspected of Dwi or drugs?  If he pulled   you over and had you get out, it was for a reason.  If he thinks you may have something or are holding, yes, he can get it out of your purse, and search your purse.

Answer 6

not unless he has probable cause (like smell of pot or liquor on you or the car).

Answer 7

Under the right circumstances, yes.

By what you stated it doesn't sound like a "search" to me. It sounds just like you stated, he was getting the ID from your purse. I think if it was a search he probably would have emptied all the contents of the purse. Did he?Think about the majority of an officers day. What is their typical dealings with people? Too much time is forced to be spent on criminals and very little left for p.r. with the rest of society. What was the officers guarantee that if you reached into your purse you wouldn't pull out some type of weapon?

Answer 8

A police officer wont take your wallet to remove your drivers license so unless he was arresting you for something they would have never searched your purse.  They cant even search your car without permission unless they have probable cause and they need to state what that probable cause is first. They can ask you to search it without probable cause and if you say no, they can detain you until they get a search warrant.