The 4th amendment, it was nice knowing you

[Soral]

Police officers who smell marijuana coming from an apartment can break down the door and enter if they have reason to believe the evidence might be destroyed, several Supreme Court's justices suggested Wednesday.

In the past, the high court usually has said police cannot enter a home or apartment without a search warrant because of the 4th Amendment's ban on "unreasonable searches and seizures."

But during arguments in a drug case, the court's conservatives said they favored relaxing that rule when police say they have a need to act fast.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-court-search-20110113,0,5698294.story


Quick, THEY MIGHT BE SMOKING POT IN THEIR HOUSE NOT BOTHERING ANYONE!

And now.... a police officers nose is now above the law.

This is just insanity.

And the conservatives are the ones backing this? WHAT THE HELL???????

[spanone]

1. the bu$h* legacy lives on in the roberts court

[Cleita]

2. Another erosion of our rights that is making a police

state out of our nation. It needs to be dialed back.

[treestar]

3. that has been the law for decades

There are a few exceptions to the warrant requirement. One is that the evidence will be destroyed.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Where the hell are the Tea Baggers and all those who are yelling about losing their 'freedom'?

[Soral]

7. They are busy defending this, they are pro-government for anyone other than themselves

[Morning Dew]

5. "your honor, I was walking by the building...

and I smelled pot coming from that apartment on the 9th floor... yep, I'm sure of it."

[svsuman23]

6. well if you are breaking the law, cops should intervene..

[Soral]

8. Article: Police, with guns drawn, Mistake Skunk's Smell For Marijuana

http://www.torontosun.com/news/canada/2011/01/08/16813681.html

[svsuman23]

10. do humans make mistakes? I'm not saying what they did was fine,

But accidents do happen from time to time.

[Romulox]

12. Unless you have a lot of money. nt

[The Doctor.]

14. What about the states with laws against oral sex?

Should police be able to claim they heard someone with a mouthful behind a door and bust in?

"It sounded like oral sex!"

[Matariki]

18. You should get one of those pocket Constitution cards

and read it daily. Maybe read some history too.

[The Backlash Cometh]

9. This is going too far.

They keep pushing the edge of the envelope. When does it stop?

[DCKit]

11. Headline: Sales of Patchouli Skyrocket, Entire Neighborhoods Sprayed Liberally nt

[Romulox]

13. This is why I APPLAUD the TSA.

Because the majority of Americans whining about pat-downs support the War on Drugs. :shrug:

[hootinholler]

15. Would patchouli be ok?

What about other odors? If I burned my toast, would that attract them?

-Hoot

[Matariki]

16. I suppose that extends to them "thinking" they smell pot?

[SteppingRazor]

17. The Fourth Amendment's been dead for years.

The Drug War takes a lot of blame for that, but just as much blame could go simply to the technologically advanced times in which we live.