Re: Search of airbags

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The "inventory" search covers everything and every place.
Ostensibly, it protects the cops from being sued for
absconding with that 3 carat diamond the perp kept stored in
the toolbox in the trunk. Helluva law enforcement tool, huh?

On 6/27/06, Carol wrote:
> Interesting fact pattern came up today, no case law on it
> yet in my state. Driver is pulled over and arrested for
> driving under suspension. Arguably a bad stop but then
> car is searched for "inventory" incident to towing.
> Officer notices the cover on the passenger-side air bag is
> loose and he takes it off. there is a Wal-mart bag inside
> the airbag compartment. Officer looks inside the bag and
> finds several psuedophed tablets. both driver and
> passenger are charged with assembling meth. Here's my
> question: is the search into the airbag compartment
> overbroad? How far can they go to take an inventory?
> into the trunk? into a locked glove box? taking out the
> airbags? Any experience or ideas from the group?