is this legal?

[justwondering]

Last night my son was stopped in my car, supposedly for speeding.This is in Ga.When he asked to see the radar, the officer said he had 'accidentally" erased it when he checked it.Then my son opened the trunk to get his wallet and the cop spotted a bulletproof vest belonging to my nephew,also present in the car. The cop then called backup and they throughly searched my car three times,without asking for consent.Was there probable cause to search because of the vest?Also, if the radar was 'erased", how do they prove he was speeding?

 

[Tracey]

You'd have to check case law in Georgia to see if possessing a bulletproof vest gives probable cause to suspect the person also possesses a firearm. In Washington, this search would be illegal. However, Wash has more stringent search laws than most of the country.

Did the officers find anything while searching for the gun? If not, you have no real remedy other than suing them for trespessing in the car. You won't win.

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This is not legal advice and you are not my client. Double check everything with your own attorney and your state's laws.

[This message has been edited by Tracey (edited April 18, 2000).]