We all remember that Tim McVeigh, convicted in the Oklahoma City bombing, was arrested on the road. In short, during car searches are often how criminals are arrested or crimes are prevented. That's why for the last ten years the U.S. Supreme Court has repeatedly held that when people leave their homes their rights to privacy become significantly reduced. A Boston University law school professor says that this decision means anyone who gets into a car runs the risk of being molested. This decision tells the police that any time they stop a car they can search any person in it for whatever reason.
Police are law-abiding.
But they also are ordinary people. And ordinary people can make mistakes. What we're most afraid of is that when police stop a black or an Asian person hidden racism within them could come to the fore. Then it's not difficult for them to think those stopped are criminals and search the car. Under the new decision police can go beyond checking on traffic infractions but check for drunken driving or drugs or weapons.