Can police search my car if it is impounded?

Question

can the police search my car if it is impounded with no arrest? I know they can inventory it, but isnt that just like searching it?

Answer 1

Yes. It’s called search incident to arrest.. No warrant is needed. However, they can inventory the car if it impounded.. If they find anything illegal during the inventory, they can get a search warrant and use it against you!

Answer 2

it's what the law allows. It's kinda like search incident to arrest.

Answer 3

Yes, plain and simple.  It is in their custody, therefore they can search it.  Good luck and God Bless!

Answer 4

They can search it if that is there policy.  The real question is whether they can use anything there as evidence against the owner.  Generally they can, but there is a catch.  The search really must be an inventory search, and the searching officer must establish 1) that there is a policy of doing an invetory search, 2) what the policy is and 3) that it was followed in this case.

Answer 5

When a car is imponded everything inside is inventoried to assure that nothing is taken by anyone and that all of your property is returned to you.  If something illegal is found then police will be notified and a search warrant will be issued to search the vehicle again.

Answer 6

Can they?  More like REQUIRED to.  Any vehicle towed away is inventoried.  That way there are not any trunkloads of pipe bombs taken to a secure facility.  Yes, it is just like searching it.

Answer 7

they would have to have a warrent, and probable cause