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Search And Seizure Of Containers Found In Automobiles: The Supreme Court Struggles For A "Bright Line" Rule, James M. Mccauley

University of Richmond Law Review

Two recent decisions by the United States Supreme Court have added a new dimension to the law of search and seizure of automobiles and containers found within motor vehicles. The plurality opinion in Robbins v. California'held that a closed opaque container found in the luggage compartment of a station wagon during the course of a lawful vehicle search could not be seized without a warrant. However, in New York v. Belton, a majority held that a police officer, incident to a lawful custodial arrest of an occupant of an automobile, may search the passenger compartment of that automobile and examine …