plain view doctrine

The plain view doctrine is a legal principle that allows law enforcement officers to seize evidence of a crime without a warrant if that evidence is clearly visible to them while they are lawfully present in an area. This means that if police are in a location where they're allowed to be—such as during a traffic stop or in a public space—and they see illegal items or activities, they can take action because the evidence is in plain sight. This doctrine helps balance individual rights with the need for effective law enforcement.