What makes police want to search a car?

[MasterVampire]

I've been reading though the The Aus/NZ/Asian Drug Busts Mega-Thread and alot of the times it seems like the police pull over some random car and then end up searching it which ends in them finding a heap of drugs.
But what leads them to search the car?
If its just some random traffic stop or the person didnt obey a stop sign or they just wanted to give a random breath test why do then then do a search?

 

[poledriver]

Maybe a few factors that I am aware of, like for instance, some people act like idiots, ie they speed and drive erratically when they should be being very careful not to attract any attention (if they have drugs in the car) and are possibly driving high.

But one thing I've heard of a few times now is that cops check random number plates and apparently (i think this is what I heard) if you have priors, like a drug conviction, it comes up on their screen, and this may be a factor if they pull a person, or people, over and decide if they wont to search a car. Some people also drive unregistered or unlicensed and that wouldn't help either in the scenario of whether a cop should search a car or not when the driver is pulled over.

Apart from that all else I can think of is some people are just unlucky.

 

[done juan]

yeah also they look for any unusual driving patterns (i know that sounds stupid) driving too fast, driving too slow, anything like that. a car full of young lads will get you pulled over just because...

 

[laugh]

Takes fuck all for a gross invasion of privacy and abuse of personal freedom...as little as the cut of your jib to the length of your hair

 

[HCandKROD]

In the United States if you are pulled over the police have to have a reason i.e. speeding,burned out taillight etc.Then, if they have suspicion of other illegal activities they can ask permission to search your car. If there is no probable cause such as the smell of marijuana,powder hanging out your nose they have to have a warrant to search. You have the right to refuse a search (if there is no probable cause) and the policeman has to call in and request a warrant which requires a judge to sign. This can take a while and if you are guilty can seal your fate in a court. But, if you are innocent and have the time to wait on a warrant then it teaches the cop not to be stupid.A cop can always make up probable cause but dash cams have helped a lot in this regard.

 

[Esotericism]

Often "intelligence" is used and cars/drivers are flagged so every time the occupant is pulled over they and everyone in the car ends up getting searched on bs grounds because they are basically on a hit list.
Besides that generally driving high is a sure fire way to get your car searched.

 

[Busty St Clare]

a car full of young lads will get you pulled over just because...

They would be the ones I would pull over to increase my odds if I was a cop. Especially if the car has been modded, lowered or has some sort of smart arse drug related sticker on the back window. It always amazes me how many large busts occur coming over the boarder during schoolies. It would make better sense loading up your torago with your wife and kids and run 30 000 pills up the M1 than a nice BMW with two tattooed bros on board.

Time of day and location would also play a role. Early hours of the morning coming away from the city/night club areas would be more successful and lucrative than pulling over a mum with kids doing the school run. Sure the odd mother might reward you with something but if you succeed with one of those you really should be using your luck at the casino not as a copper.

 

[bobbydarren]

But one thing I've heard of a few times now is that cops check random number plates and apparently (i think this is what I heard) if you have priors, like a drug conviction, it comes up on their screen, and this may be a factor if they pull a person, or people, over and decide if they wont to search a car..

Yeah many police cars have number plate scanners. If you have a previous conviction for a drug offence when you drive past or they are behind you an alarm sounds and if they got nothing better to do they'll pull you over and search your car.

You can see the number plate scanners on these ACT cars. The cylinders flickering red on the drivers side of the roof of the car. Those pigs are just sitting there waiting for for cars to drive by, when they get an alarm on a number plate they radio ahead to the police up the road to pull the car over.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzeAWvKYOz4&feature=share&list=ULzzeAWvKYOz4

You really don't want a conviction for drugs with todays cop car technology

 

[junkie skumbag]

I've been reading though the The Aus/NZ/Asian Drug Busts Mega-Thread and alot of the times it seems like the police pull over some random car and then end up searching it which ends in them finding a heap of drugs.
But what leads them to search the car?
If its just some random traffic stop or the person didnt obey a stop sign or they just wanted to give a random breath test why do then then do a search?

i find its people acting nervous is the biggest give away one time i had a shitload of smack mdma and benzos on me and about 10-15 box's of n20 on the floor in the back seat. got to a RBH witch you would think they would pull over a p plater to do a test on but we kept our cool n got waved on through.n not driving like a fuckwit when you have a shitload of drugs in the car is just asking for trouble, n if you decide to have a bong or somthing do it out side the car (drug driving is bad kiddys!) as when your not a smoker that smell is quiiiite strong.....its all about acting chill even if your shitting your self on the inside

 

[Sustanon]

Hmm it seems a lot of people think its "random" Most of the time its not. Its singled out a lot of the times. U dont hear about people getting caught with a few grams here and there or hell even multiple grams during a random search, its usually huge amounts if youve noticed. Like I mentioned in one of the other threads (cant remember which one) your number plate is registered and if you have had prior convictions or the car / plate is stolen it is next to your name.

It can say things like: Driver may elude or aggressive, known to carry weapons or illicit substances. If it happens to be random you have every right to refuse a random search if there is no probable cause although if you refuse it may indicate that there is something to hide so out come the dogs. Either way there going to find it if they want to. Bottom line is never carry anything on you whilst driving (unless u absolutely need to), do not drive whilst high, obey the law eg: no speeding, driving irratically etc etc.

 

[HCandKROD]

One tip if you are concerned I'm a multifull felon. IDK if this is legal overseas but in America I have signed ownership over to my sister who is an upstanding citizen. Therefore, any question on my tag carries no question. What I am doing is not illegal it's just a question of semantics. I carry full insurance on the auto and make sure my car is in full repair.

 

[bunnymunro]

Today I received a renewal notice for my car rego. it was unusual this time, as it did not come with a sticker. it seems that the new system they have does not require one, as the police scanners will pick up if rego is current or not. That given, I assume they will with just a small amount of extra effort, be able to pull up any other details about the registered owner, and therefore the likelihood of there being any reason to pull them over and undertake further tests...
Guess its time to sell my car to my dog...

 

[poledriver]

Yeah i heard in the media for a while that they weren't continuing with the stickers.

 

[thestudent14]

One time I was speeding by alot up the freeway, cop pulled caught me with a camera. I was then alcohol and drug tested which came up inconclusive as I was sober. I had friends with me in my car who had been doing lines and smoking weed but they were not tested. Because of the amount I was speeding by my car was impounded on the spot and told it would be searched.

I told my friends to grab all there gear, one of my stupid mates though left some weed in the car (between a qtr and half an ounce). I was lucky enough that when I got to pick my car up (2 days later which has been extended to 30 under the new hooning laws in Victoria) the weed was still in there and no charges were ever given.

I suspect they did see the budd, because it was in a tin in the back seat, if any search was done this was in direct line of sight and could not be missed. I think some cops are not going to waste there time for minimal amounts, I'm sure glad my other mate remembered to grab his ice and crack pipe though

 

[Cornishman]

Terrorists.

 

[Ziggurat]

Most of the time it isn't random

The sworn account by Constables Shore and King for the interception and search of
the vehicle was:
5.2.1. They were conducting a “traffic operation” and performing “traffic duties”
which “involved anything related to traffic matters” including “bad driving,
speeding, drink driving...” but did not involve routinely or randomly pulling
over vehicles”.4
5.2.2. The applicant’s vehicle was observed overtaking “a vehicle in the left hand
lane”. It was followed and intercepted because of this manoeuvre.5
Constable Shore made a notation in his notebook that the applicant was
intercepted “for driver’s license check and [to] determine if [the] vehicle may
recently have been stolen.”6

The finding of the cannabis in the applicant’s vehicle was not serendipitous. The
interception by Constables Shore and King and the subsequent searches of it and
the shed were, to use Detective Gough’s own words, all “orchestrated” by him.
11.1.
11.2.
The applicant had been, for several months before his arrest, a “person of interest”
within a covert surveillance and monitoring operation conducted by various
agencies including the CMC, the NCA and the QPS:
11.2.1. He had been under intermittent physical observation from these agencies
since 2 May 2002.36
11.2.2. He became a “person of interest” because of the nature of his interaction
with some persons under primary surveillance viz., Graham Keating, Shirley
Boothman and Noel McGarry.37

 

[popeyes mate]

Early hours of the morning coming away from the city/night club areas would be more successful and lucrative than pulling over a mum with kids doing the school run. Sure the odd mother might reward you with something but if you succeed with one of those you really should be using your luck at the casino not as a copper.

These are the odds I am hoping work in my favour.

 

[opi8]

Prior drug conviction would mean every time you get pulled over, you get searched.

Driving erratically would mean you deserve to get pulled over and searched.

Being an egotistacal, self-righteous fuck head and always wishing ill of other people would demand that Busty get searched whenever he has anything on his person.

 

[p-man]

I've been pulled over on a few occasions, in a more than 'suss' car in the last couple years. Some of the time for driving a little too erratically and drawing attention to myself. I was always questioned and some of the time breath tested, but i was never searched. Imo, it's all about how you act, speak and present yourself in front of a copper. If you don't give them any reason to search you, then they usually won't

 

[Busty St Clare]

Being an egotistacal, self-righteous fuck head and always wishing ill of other people would demand that Busty get searched whenever he has anything on his person.

My "Cops are Tops" and blue checked ribbon stickers kind of save me I guess.