Blue Sky Limousine

It’s hit the fan.

I read on Yahoo today that, “The Supreme Court affirmed Wednesday that police have the power to conduct searches and seize evidence, even when done during an arrest that turns out to have violated state law.”

So what this means is that cops can arrest you for any reason. Can search your stuff, and take it away from you. Then later, if it turns out your arrest was unwarranted and illegal, it doesn’t matter. They can still use your stuff for any purpose, including your prosecution.

It’s my understanding that disallowing the use of evidence that was wrongfully obtained provided motivation for officers not to illegally arrest people or trespass on private property just to find said evidence. But all that’s out the window.

You can get arrested for anything now, it seems, because there appears to be a significantly reduced penalty for officers involved in illegal arrests. Indeed, such arrests might even prove rewarding, as they would allow the seizure of property that could prove useful later.

So… say bye bye to the Fourth Amendment.