nife said:

Nope actually if you tell him politely to talk to your lawyer before he continues a search he is obligated to, assuming he doesn't have a search warrent./quote]

Probable Cause, all he needs is the ability to articulate suspicion that you are in possession of contraband, things like drugs, illegal aliens and excessive amounts of money. Warrant not needed and cops are notorious for making up laws on the spot to coerce you into a consentual search (CS can be revoked at any time)and having a lawyer does no good on the road side, to use that ploy you will be going to jail.

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Explain that you don't think you need to be searched and that if the cop feels differently he can explain the justification to your laywer. NEVER be rude to a cop thats the bottom line. If you are polite but firm that you do not think that a search is warrented then most likely they will not press the matter.

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They will push it in many instances, with or with out a warrant, they base it on the way you look, tatoos, long hair, piercings and a list of other crap. Discrimination? sort of, it's profiling. Regardless of how polite you are some cops will push it and the first time you mention 'lawyer' but your ass he will push further and harder.

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BTW for a k-9 search they need your permission or a search warrent. So the same still holds they have to ask you or get a judge to sign a search warrent. Without cause. at least as far as I've ben told by my lawyer. This could be wrong or just hold true for certian circumstances

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The US Supreme court made a ruling determining that if you are stopped for a standard traffic stop, the cop can hold you for up to an hour to wait for a K-9 unit. Once your license is returned during a stop you are then free to leave, if he detains you longer he has violated your rights.

You can refuse to stay if your ID is back in your posession but the cop can give you a Hobsons Choice, the cop gives you the option to leave but your car has to remain. Outrageous you say, well aparently it's legal and then they have all the time they want to get a K-9

Most cops follow department policy for K-9 searches, it's usualy stricter than the law. Generaly the dog is used as a threat, if you fold and consent he knows you have something he may wait for the dog to make it easy or may have been bluffing. You hold your ground and K-9 arrives and the handler has the option to refuse the K-9 'sniff'
(law dictates that any thing detected from the outside of the vehicle gives Probable Cause to do a search).

K-9 is a cop, it doesn't have the right to enter the vehicle unless he 'hits' on something.

Do not have drugs in your car, do not have them on your person while you are driving. Leave them at home. Should it be unaviodable and you must carry something in your car, place it in a difficult to access area of the car thats on the out side, this gives you a little opening for 'it's not mine and I have no idea'. Even a bad lawyer can get you off on that one. and never ever ever mention selling anything or narc out anyone.