Legal Question in Criminal Law in Louisiana

I got stopped because my license plate was not readable and I have a valid Louisiana license, but didn't have them on me because I had misplaced them. The officer asked me if I had any drugs or weapons on me and I told him that I did not. He asked could he search my truck and I told him no. He said that because I said no gave him reasonable cause to have suspicision that drugs may be in my car and called the task force to search. Was this legal?


Asked on 11/23/09, 1:00 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Hardy Parkerson Retired Attorney; now Law Professor

Dear LawGuru Friend,

One thing I learned during forty-one years of practicing--among other things--

criminal law, is that we lawyers do not know all the answers. This is a hard

one for a lawyer: the matter of search and seizure and legal protections against

"unreasonable" searches and seizures. What the cops did looks wrong to me; but

the Supreme Court keeps chopping away at our constitutional rights, especially

the rights granted to the citizens under the Fourth Amendment. I suggest you e-mail

me with you name and phone number and I will get back with you and we can discuss

this matter further. Of course, no charge! Why no charge? Long story...I'll relate it to you on the phone, if need be.

Looking forward to hearing back from you, I am

Sincerely,

Hardy Parkerson, J.D.

127 Greenway Street (write me, if you please)

Lake Charles, La 70605

Read more
Answered on 12/05/09, 2:50 pm


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