Palm Beach Criminal Lawyer - Search of Automobile

Palm Beach police officers may attempt to circumvent constitutional protection in a criminal investigation by conducting an inventory of an impounded Automobile.  A qualified Palm Beach criminal lawyer should know that in a number of situations the police may find themselves in control of an automobile, but without probable cause to search the vehicle.

For example, the vehicle may have been towed for illegal parking, or as in a recent Palm Beach County investigation, the police arrest the driver and then  take steps to protect the vehicle from theft or vandalism.

The police may merely lock the vehicle and place it in an impoundment lot, or they may inventory the property contained within the vehicle. Even where a criminal attorney argues that an inventory of the contents of the vehicle is an intrusion upon privacy and thus covered by the Fourth Amendment. This intrusion, does not require probable cause to believe that the vehicle contains evidence of a crime.            

Palm Beach criminal lawyers handling such a case must take great care in formulating deposition questions in an attempt to truly uncover the police officers motives in searching an impounded vehicle.                

If you have questions regarding the laws regarding an inventory search conducted on your vehicle, contact the criminal lawyers at William Moore, P.A. - We have offices located in West Palm Beach, Broward and Miami.