If the police k9 alerts the officer is it an automatic search warrant?

Question

I was pulled over for speeding and 30 minutes later i see another officer pull up and he comes over and asks me if i have drugs or weapons in the car. I said no why did you ask did the officer feel threatend by me so he asks do i mind if he takes a look and i said yes I mind at this point i was irate that they would ask. so they bought the k9 and said if he alerts them its a automatic search warrant so conveniently it alerts them they ask me and my cousin to step out of the car they search him and my car didnt find anything and they decide to search my 14 year old cousin again. all this while my kids were screaming in the back seat

Answer 1

Hi,  some of the cops have really gotton out of hand they have to much freedom to do what they please... if they suspect that there may be drugs in your car and you refuse they search your car they will bring the dog by your car and if that dog acts like you have drugs in your car they can keep you there till they get a search warrant and that can be misrable

Answer 2

A K-9 alert does not mean an automatic warrant.  The officer was probably using lay terms with you so that you would understand the situation.  I'm not trying to insult you.  I'm simply stating that there are many people who do not understand legal terms.  So, when you say "search warrant" it makes them understand that their property will be lawfully searched.  A warrant can only be signed by a judge, then executed by police.  Sorry for all of that info for such a small portion of your posting, but I thought it might be informative.  To answer your question-Yes, an officer can search your vehicle if a K-9 alerts the officer to the presence of an illegal substance.  This is due to the fact that a reasonable person has a lesser expectation of privacy while in a vehicle, as opposed to a residence.  I hope this helps.

Answer 3

Yes, a K-9 alert is grounds to conduct a further search for drugs. The courts have ruled though, that the police cannot detain someone for an unreasonable amount of time (like, longer than it would normally take to conduct a routine stop-15 minutes give or take...) in order to have a K-9 respond. Even though they didnt find anything, if anyone smoked weed inside your car earlier, the dog will smell it.

Now....if your'e totally telling EVERYTHING that happened, the cops were out of line. The only way to handle this is to make a complaint with the patrol commander.

Answer 4

If a k9 alerts it gives the officer the right to search your vehicle on scene, since a vehicle can be moved and the evidence later destroyed.  Numerous Supreme Court cases have upheld this.

Answer 5

In this situation when the dog  alters the police to possible drugs in the car after it sniffed the out side of your car, that is all the probable cause the police need to search the vehicle

now if you feel some how the police acted inappropriately by lying that the dog altered, your recourse would be to file a complaint against the officer,

it seems you did everything within your legal rights, you did not have to consent to the search,

Answer 6

You had every right to say no to a search, but once the K9 unit indicates an alert, the police have probable cause to search.  Sorry, it's the way it works.