Document: 460 U.S. 276 103 S.Ct. 1081 75 L.Ed.2d 55 UNITED STATES, Petitionerv.Leroy Carlton KNOTTS. No. 81-1802. Argued Dec. 6, 1982. Decided March 2, 1983. Syllabus Having reason to believe that one Armstrong was purchasing chloroform be used in the manufacture of illicit drugs, Minnesota law enforcement officers arranged with seller place a "beeper" (a radio transmitter) inside container sold Armstrong. Officers then followed car which placed, maintaining contact by using both visual surveillance and monitor received beeper signals, ultimately tracing chloroform, monitoring alone, respondent's secluded cabin Wisconsin. Following three days intermittent cabin, secured search warrant discovered container, drug laboratory including chemicals formulas for producing amphetamine. After his motion suppress evidence based on warrantless denied, respondent convicted Federal District Court conspiring controlled substances violation 21 U.S.C. § 846. The Appeals reversed, holding prohibited Fourth Amendment. Held: Monitoring signals did not invade any legitimate expectation privacy part, thus there neither "search" nor "seizure" within contemplation amounted principally following an automobile public streets highways. A person traveling thoroughfares has no reasonable movements. While had traditional dwelling insofar as concerned, such would have extended observation from places arriving premises after leaving highway, or movements objects outside cabin. fact relied only surveillance, but use beeper, does alter situation. Nothing Amendment police augmenting their sensory faculties enhancement science technology afforded them this case. There is indication way reveal information movement been visible naked eye Pp. 280-285. 662 F.2d 515 (CA8 1981), reversed. Andrew L. Frey, Washington, D.C., petitioner. Mark W. Peterson, Minneapolis, Minn., respondent. 1 REHNQUIST, Justice. 2 transmitter, usually battery operated, emits periodic can picked up receiver. In case, placed five gallon drum containing purchased codefendants. By progress carrying agents were able trace its purchase near Shell Lake, issue presented case whether violated rights United States Constitution. 3 * Respondent two codefendants charged conspiracy substances, limited methamphetamine, 846 (1976). One codefendants, Darryl Petschen, tried jointly respondent; other codefendant, Tristan Armstrong, pleaded guilty testified government at trial. 4 Suspicion attached trio when 3M Company, manufactures St. Paul, notified narcotics investigator Bureau Criminal Apprehension former employee, stealing could manufacturing drugs. Visual revealed employ he similar Hawkins Chemical Company Minneapolis. observed made purchase, deliver codefendant Petschen. 5 With consent installed so-called "precursor" agreed next particular container. When sent beeper. 6 proceeded Petschen's house, where transferred automobile. vehicle eastward towards state line, across Croix River, into During latter part journey, Petschen began making evasive maneuvers, pursuing ended surveillance. At about same time lost signal assistance device located helicopter approximate location again hour later. now stationary identified occupied record before us area initially determined. 7 Relying derived through additional obtained during warrant. execution warrant, fully operable, clandestine found amphetamine over $10,000 worth equipment, quantities sufficient produce 14 pounds pure Under barrel chloroform. 8 He sentenced years imprisonment. divided panel Eighth Circuit reversed conviction, finding because privacy, all fruit illegal monitoring.** (1981). We granted certiorari, --- ----, 102 2956, 73 1348 (1982), we reverse judgment Appeals. II 9 Olmstead v. States, 277 438, 48 564, 72 944 (1928), held wiretapping defendant's private telephone line violate effectuated without physical trespass government. Justice Brandeis, joined Stone, dissented decision, believing actions constituted "unjustifiable intrusion . upon individual," therefore Id., 478, S.Ct., 572 (Brandeis, J., dissenting). Nearly 40 later, Katz 389 347, 88 507, 19 576 (1967), overruled saying Amendment's reach "cannot turn presence absence given enclosure." U.S., 353, 512. said: 10 "The Government's activities electronically listening recording petitioner's words justifiably while booth 'search seizure' meaning electronic employed achieve end happen penetrate wall constitutional significance." Ibid. 11 Smith Maryland, 442 735, 99 2577, 61 220 (1979), elaborated principles stated Katz: 12 "Consistently Katz, uniformly application depends invoking protection claim 'justifiable,' 'reasonable,' 'legitimate privacy' invaded action. [Citations omitted]. This inquiry, Harlan aptly noted concurrence, normally embraces discrete questions. first individual, conduct, 'exhibited actual (subjective) privacy,' 361 [88 516] whether, majority, individual shown 'he seeks preserve [something] private.' 351 511]. second question individual's subjective 'one society prepared recognize "reasonable," ' id., 516]—whether, expectation, viewed objectively, 'justifiable' under circumstances. 353 512]. See Rakas Illinois, 439 [128], 143-144, n. [99 421 430, 58 387]; 151 434] (concurring opinion); White, 401 [745], 752 [91 1122 1126, 28 453] (plurality opinion)." 740-741, 2580 (footnote omitted). 13 governmental conducted means commented more than once diminished automobile: "One lesser motor function transportation it seldom serves one's residence repository personal effects. little capacity escaping scrutiny. It travels occupants contents are plain view." Cardwell Lewis, 417 583, 590, 94 2464, 2469, 41 325 (1974) (plurality). also 128, 153-154, 421, 435-436, 387 (1978) (POWELL, concurring); South Dakota Opperman, 428 364, 368, 96 3092, 3096, 49 1000 15 travelling another. travelled voluntarily conveyed anyone who wanted look roads direction, whatever stops made, final destination exited onto property. 16 Knotts, owner surrounding drove, undoubtedly concerned: 17 "Crime, even own quarters, is, course, grave concern society, allows crime reached proper showing. right thrust themselves home concern, chooses dwell security freedom must reasonably yield rule, decided judicial officer, policeman agent." Johnson 333 10, 13-14, 68 367, 368-369, 92 L.Ed. 436 (1948) omitted), quoted approval Payton New York, 445 573, 586, 100 1371, 1380, 63 639 (1980). 18 But "open fields." Hester 265 57, 44 445, 898 (1924). along route adjoining Knotts' sufficed these facts police. receiver, bestowed birth Lee, 274 559, 47 746, 71 1202 (1927), "But high seas shown. testimony boatswain shows searchlight. exploration below decks hatches. For aught appears, cases liquor deck and, like defendants, boat boarded. Such searchlight comparable marine glass field glass. Constitution." 563, 748. 20 recently occasion deal another some extent factual counterpart assertions here. supra, "This analysis dictates [Smith] phone, numerical company 'exposed' equipment ordinary course business. so doing, assumed risk numbers dialed. switching processed those merely modern operator who, earlier day, personally completed calls subscriber. concedes if operator, privacy. [Citation inclined hold different result required automate." 744-745, 2582. 22 actually quarrel analysis, though expresses generalized view sought "twenty-four citizen country will possible, knowledge supervision." Br. Resp., "reality hardly suggests abuse," Zurcher Stanford Daily, 547, 566, 98 1970, 1982, 56 525 (1978); dragnet type practices envisions should eventually occur, enough determine may applicable. Insofar complaint appears simply scientific devices enabled effective detecting crime, foundation. never equated efficiency unconstitutionality, decline do now. 23 specifically attacks come rest property repeatedly challenges "use chemical Respondent's premises," 26; states "[t]he overlooks involves sanctity residence, accorded greatest available Amendment." rested decision ground: 24 "As above, principal rationale allowing tracking beepers, particularly beepers auto, observing what already public. people pass daily spheres. track bugged obtaining they enhanced intrusive best, might push fortuitously unreasonably sphere protected Pet., 6a. 25 think contentions, above language opinion Appeals, lose sight As noted, nothing indicates indicated automotive journey rural Admittedly, failure officials ascertain ultimate resting solely eyes. sort raises issues raise. distance throughout him highway owned respondent, still car. fact, others, led discovery laboratory. Just notions real dispositive 26 return posed beginning our inquiry discussing supra; complained part? reasons previously stated, not. Since not, 27 Reversed. BRENNAN, whom MARSHALL joins, concurring judgment. 29 I join BLACKMUN's STEVENS' opinions add, however, much difficult challenged, certain aspects compatriot, original installation. ante, 279, **. quite clear protects against invasions person's "expectation[s] privacy," accompanied intrusions. Cases Silverman 365 505, 509-512, 81 679, 681-683, 734 (1961), that, engage constitutionally order obtain information, constitute means. progeny, eroded principle. Cf. Supreme Court, 1979 Term, Harv.L.Rev. 75, 203-204 30 am entirely unconvinced Appeals's footnote disposing installation statement "we [of drum] meets requirements Amendment, consenting intends soon sell 'bugged' unsuspecting buyer. Caveat emptor." 515, 517, (1981) (citation Government here defending damages action breach warranty; attempting justify legality criminal investigation. sure purposes significant difference between planting object possession suspect purposefully arranging unknown him, it. Gouled 255 298, 305-306, 261, 263-264, 65 647 (1921); Lewis 385 206, 211, 87 424, 427, 312 (1966). 31 claimed oral argument Court's cases, standing challenge sold, compatriots. *. If correct, confirm me formalism confusion recent attempts redefine standing. Rawlings Kentucky, 448 98, 114, 2556, 2566, 633 (1980) (MARSHALL, dissenting); 156, 437, (WHITE, 32 BLACKMUN, MARSHALL, STEVENS join, 33 gratuitously refers fields" doctrine twice cites Ante, 282 285. me, present open fields doctrine, regard references citations unnecessary decision. Furthermore, most important, concerning accepted plenary consideration. Florida Brady, cert. granted, 459 2266, 1282 (1982); Oliver 812, 74 ---- (1983). Dunn, 674 1093 (CA5 1982), pending, 82-508. 34 unfortunate provide either side support, directly implication, position, surely wish decide one. Although indicate how decided, defer comments concerns subject benefit briefs argument. 35 opinion. concur reaches. 36 STEVENS, 37 questioned transmitter drum, see 279 *, agree make airwaves trying opinion, contains unnecessarily broad dicta: distorts prove confusing courts apply future. 38 First, implies parading manner tantamount display 282. support implication. BLACKMUN points out, pose issue. 39 Second, inhibit "the facilities them." contrary (1967). augmentation unobjectionable, follows detection techniques implicate especially sensitive concerns. Accordingly, ** suggesting challenge. note several Courts approved installations, Bernard, 625 854 (CA9 1980); 621 1382 1980), 450 935, 101 1400, 67 370 (1981); Bruneau, 594 1190 (CA8), 444 847, 94, 62 (1979); Miroyan, 577 489 (CA9), 896, 258, 2d 243 Cheshire, 569 887 (CA5), 437 907, 3097, 57 1138 Curtis, 562 1153 1977), 910, 256 Abel, 548 591 431 956, 97 2678, 53 273 (1977); Hufford, 539 429 1002, 533, 50 614 (1976),

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