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Search and Seizure of Cell Phone

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Submitted By crow7663
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Search and Seizure of Cell Phone
Courtney Henry
COMM/215
12 May 2014
Virginia Stewart

Search and Seizure of Cell Phone
It is in the best interest of everyone not to have their cell phone search and seize during a routine traffic stop or when arrested. Although the police may or may not have probable cause, that shouldn’t give the police the right to search and seize your phone without a warrant. It is in the best interest of everyone because your Fourth Amendment right is being violated and your privacy is being taking away from you. Your cell phone should be considered as your property as stated in the fourth amendment, which cannot be searched without a warrant. Your cell phone contains a lot of sensitive information such as banking information, medical records, personal photos, videos, names of friends, and associates that you wouldn’t want for anyone else to know. Even if an arrest is being made for a major traffic violation such as DWI, excessive speeding, driving reckless, or the suspicion of a crime, a police offer should produce a warrant to justify the search and seizure of your cell phone.
Probable Cause

During a routine traffic stop, a police officer has a lot of power to their discretion. If they pull you over for speeding, not wearing your seat belt, having expired tags or a blown taillight, they may give you a ticket or give you a warning. In the most extreme case they may arrest you for not wearing your seatbelt or if you have an outstanding warrant against you for minor offense such as not paying your parking tickets. Since they are suspicious in nature, if your cell phone is in plain view, the police may search it for information because they may feel that they have probable cause. Probable cause is defined as facts or evidence supporting a reasonable belief that a crime has been, is being, or is going to be committed. Police

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