Coolidge v. New Hampshire

Coolidge v. New Hampshire (1971) was a Supreme Court case addressing whether police needed a warrant to search a suspect's automobile. The Court ruled that, under the Fourth Amendment, police generally need a warrant before searching vehicle contents, unless there are special reasons like immediate danger or probable cause. This decision clarified limits on searches, emphasizing that even in cases involving vehicles, constitutional rights against unreasonable searches must be respected, unless specific exceptions apply. The case reinforced the importance of privacy rights and the requirement for law enforcement to follow proper procedures when conducting searches.