Opinion ID: 758098
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Is the Secondary Purpose of Searching for Narcotics Constitutional?

Text: 67 The Government may search people entering sensitive facilities, such as government buildings, for explosives and weapons. See McMorris, 567 F.2d at 901. Such a search, however, must be limited and no more intrusive than necessary to protect against the danger to be avoided.... Id. at 899. 68 To determine whether the secondary purpose of searching for drugs is permissible, the court must balance the need to search against the invasion which the search entails. See Camara, 387 U.S. at 536-37, 87 S.Ct. 1727. While the Government argues that the district court erred when it found that a dual motive search was invalid, for the purposes of this appeal, it does not argue that it may properly conduct an administrative search for drugs, alcohol, and gambling materials. 69 Searches conducted as part of a general regulatory scheme must further an administrative purpose, rather than further a criminal investigation. See Davis, 482 F.2d at 908. While administrative regulations prohibit the possession and use of drugs, alcohol, and gambling materials in the Federal Building, the Government has not shown that its interest in searching for these items outweighs the public's interest in privacy. Accordingly, the district court held that an administrative search of the belongings of visitors to the Social Security Office looking for drugs, alcohol and gambling materials is not reasonable under the Fourth Amendment. 70 We affirm the district court's holding that the secondary purpose for the search was improper. This Court has repeatedly warned against the potential dangers of administrative searches, and noted that courts must guard against the danger that a permissible administrative search will be subverted into a general search for evidence of crime. Davis, 482 F.2d at 909. Here, the intrusion on the public is great. The search subjects everyone accessing the Federal Building to a search of his or her personal belongings. Further, the Federal Building is far removed from any international border, so that the requirements of the Fourth Amendment have not been weakened. In contrast with weapons and explosives, the presence of narcotics on federal property does not present an immediate threat to the occupants. 71