Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Virginia

Violation of Rights against illegal Search and siezure

If your trash is still in your garbage can but the garbage can is off your property. Can a police officer search the contents of the can without a warrent, your permsion, or probable cause.


Asked on 3/05/02, 12:06 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Charles Aspinwall Charles S. Aspinwall, J.D., LLC

Re: Violation of Rights against illegal Search and siezure

Yes. The law is that one has no expectation of privacy in trash, in that is abandoned property. No search warrant or permission required. Moral: don't throw anything in the trash you don't want someone else to see.

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Answered on 3/05/02, 12:26 pm


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