What are the laws regarding cops and when they can search a car and can't. I hae heard different thing, someone said if there is a decal on the car, others have said whenever they want? which is it, and don't they still have to have a reason to pull you over?

 

Probable Cause. The officer does not even need to tell you what it is either. They can just search away so long as they have a reason to note in the report to follow. So even somthing like not wearing a seatbelt could result in a search from what I understand about this.

 

…and probable cause might include:

an odor of booze or dope.
A coat in the car covering “something.”
A crack pipe in plain sight.
Anything unusual inside the car.

Also with your permission. The cop might ask “May I look inside the car?” If you answer “yes,” then anything found may be used as evidence. “Permission” is a substitute for “probable cause.”

 

They have to pull you over for soemthing though right? They can't pull you over cause the car looks like it has mods, right?

 

Sure they can pull you over and search you if they think your car is modded. Window Tint is a great example. If a cop sees it thats all they need to pull you over and start a search. There was a news article a few months back on how the police are now training other police departments to recognize modded vehicles.

 

after the introduction of the patriot act they can do whatever they want without any probable cause. The patriot act bascially says: screw the constitution you the people no longer have any rights. Thank you mister wolfowitz