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Be Careful About Where You Leave Your Trash!

By Ron Chapman

          If you think that the police cannot search your trash simply because you put it into your garbage can and place it in front of your home to be picked up by trash collectors, think again!  In the case of California v. Greenwood, the United States Supreme Court ruled that the police are allowed to search your trash without a warrant if you leave your garbage for collection outside the curtilage of your home.           In the Greenwood case, the police twice obtained garbage bags left on the curb in front of Mr. Greenwood's home after receiving information that Greenwood might be involved in the trafficking of narcotics.  When the police found items indicating narcotics use inside the garbage bags, they obtained a warrant to search Greenwood's home where they found narcotics and then arrested Greenwood on felony narcotics charges...continue to full post

Full post as published by Palm Beach Criminal Defense Blog on September 08, 2008 (boomark / email).