Motor vehicle exception

The motor vehicle exception is a legal rule in the United States that modifies the normal probable cause requirement of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and, when applicable, allows a police officer to search a motor vehicle without a search warrant.

[3] The exception is based on the idea that there is a lower expectation of privacy in motor vehicles because of the regulations under which they operate.

Also, the ease of mobility creates an inherent exigency to prevent the removal of evidence and contraband.

In Pennsylvania v. Labron[4] the US Supreme Court stated, "If a car is readily mobile and probable cause exists to believe it contains contraband, the Fourth Amendment permits the police to search the vehicle without more.

[2] In United States v. Ludwig, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals found that a search warrant is not required even if there is little or no risk of the vehicle being driven off.