New+York+v.+Belton

In 1978 four men driving a car without he owner or relative of the owner were driving down the highway and speed past a State Trooper. When the officer came up to the car he noticed the smell of marijuana that had just been burnt and also noticed an envelope with Super gold written on it and related it to marijuana which he thought was inside. He had all four men step out of the car and arrested them and began to search them and the car. During his search he found pot in the envelope and a bag cocaine inside Belton's jacket pocket on the back seat. At least 6 of the 9 Supreme Court members noted that once arrested by officers they may search the car anywhere with in reaching distance of the driver or passengers in the car. Belton pleaded guilty to the lesser charges but stated that the searching of his jacket were the cocaine was found was a violation of his fourth and fourteenth amendment. The trooper searched their car and found his jacket on the back seat were he proceeded to search the pockets and found a baggy of pure Columbian nose candy (cocaine). The searching of his jacket was a search incident to a lawful custodial arrest and therefore did not violate his fourth or fourteenth amendment. Some things that were made clear from this case were that once pulled over and you give law enforcement probable cause, the are allowed to search you for weapons and your car anywhere with in reaching distance of where you and your passengers are sitting. During a lawful arrest, it is constitutional for an officer to conduct a warrant less search of the immediate vicinity including closed containers and zipped packages.