California v. Acevedo

California v. Acevedo was a significant Supreme Court case in 1991 concerning the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches. The Court ruled that police can search containers within a vehicle without a warrant if they have probable cause to believe the container holds illegal items. This decision clarified that the search of a car and its contents is treated differently than a home, allowing law enforcement more leeway in situations where they suspect criminal activity, thereby streamlining the process of evidence collection during vehicle searches.