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Wyoming V. Houghton: Passengers' Belongings Subject To Searches Under The "Automobile Exception" To The Fourth Amendment's Warrant Requirements, Theresa H. Hammond

Mercer Law Review

In Wyoming v. Houghton the United States Supreme Court addressed the constitutionality of conducting a warrantless search of a container under the "automobile exception" to the Fourth Amendment's warrant requirement. The Court held that when police officers have probable cause to search a vehicle, they may also search any container found in the car, including passengers' belongings, that are capable of concealing the object of the search.