Tag Archives: drug sniffing dogs

Police cannot bring a dog to a private residence to sniff for drugs through the door, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled today in a 5-4 decision. In Florida v. Jardines, the court upheld a ruling by the Florida Supreme Court that the area immediately around a person’s home is subject to Fourth Amendment protections against searches, and that using a drug dog to sniff around constitutes a search. Police officers were effectively trespassing when they walked to the front door …

In a unanimous decision, the U.S. Supreme Court Monday ruled that an alert by a trained drug-sniffing dog constitutes probable cause for a police search under most circumstances. In Florida v. Harris, the court rejected the notion that law enforcement would have to produce a detailed record of a dog’s reliability in order for its detection process to stand up in court, deciding that simple proof of training was enough. “If a bona fide organization has certified a dog after testing …

When little Johnny takes a sudden and unexplained interest in incense, tie-dye and the Grateful Dead, his parents might feel justified in wondering if their son has started experimenting with illegal drugs. But if they don’t catch him in the act or find any sticks, stems or seeds lying around, how can they know for sure? Some parents think they’ve found the answer: Bring a drug-sniffing dog into the house to detect any pot or other drugs that might be …

Fake Cell Phone Tower Used by Police for Warrantless Tracking Did you know your cell phone can be tracked by the government, even when you’re not using it? Using a device called a Stingray, which acts like a fake cell phone tower, police can search large areas for a specific cell phone signal. It’s also able to gather data from other phones in the area. That violates the Fourth Amendment, say the Electronic Frontier Foundation and ACLU. Find Out More… …

The United States Supreme Court heard arguments in a pair of cases yesterday that could affect how police dogs are used to detect drugs in people’s homes and vehicles. The rulings, expected by next summer, could go a long way toward helping small-time users avoid the cold, wet nose of the law. In one case, Florida v. Jardines, the court considered whether law enforcement officers bringing a drug-sniffing dog onto the porch of a private home without a warrant constitutes …