American by law have constitutional rights and one of these rights include not allowing a police officer to search your car without a search warrant. These searches include both in the main cabin of the car as well as the trunk of the car. However there are certain circumstances that apply that give the officer the right to search your car without a search warrant. These rights include the following:
If you give consent to allow the officer to search your car.
If you are stopped an there are weapons, drugs or other illegal objects in plain view of the police officer, he or she has the right to search your car.
If the motorist is arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or arrested for other illegal activity at the time of the motor vehicle stop, they have the right to search your car.
If the officer believes a crime has been committed such as murder, bank robbery, car is filled with marijuana smoke or a strong smell of alcohol, they have the right to search your car.
If the officer feels that immediate action is necessary to protect the life of another they can search your car (Very hard to prove!).
Do understand, it doesn’t matter who’s car it is or who is driving the car. The fact is if you are operating a vehicle and there is illegal activity, such as the above examples, the police have the right to search your car.