Knowles+v.+Iowa


 * __Knowles v. Iowa (1998):__**
 * C****ase Summary:** In Iowa, a policeman stopped Knowles for speeding and issued him a citation rather than arresting him. The officer conducted a full search of the car for absolutely no probable cause, for which he found marijuana and a pot pipe and arrested Knowles. Before Knowles’ trial on state drug charges, he tried to suppress evidence in the argument that because he had not been arrested before the search of his car, the search could not be sustained under the search incident arrest exception recognized in United States v. Robinson. Therefore, the officer violated the 4th amendment in that a warrant is required along with probable cause. If the officer had followed the rules of the 4th amendment, an arrest wouldn’t have been made and there would’ve been no need for the trial.


 * Majority Opinion: The main concern for the officer was his own saftey **. ** Even though the police officer went against the fourth amendment without probable cause and searched the vehicle, the search was successful in that the man in the car did have marijuana. Although he was arrested, Knowles was released because it was an illegal search and seizure.

Minority Opinion: T**he officer had no probable cause to search his car because Knowles was only pulled over for a speeding violation. So therefor Knowles trial for drug violations wouldn't have been necessary and he wold have only paid the speeding ticket.

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