When a car is seized, does the police officer have to do an inventory sheet?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
When a car is seized, does the police officer have to do an inventory sheet?
Asked on September 8, 2012 under Criminal Law, Tennessee
Answers:
B.H.F., Member, Texas State Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 12 years ago | Contributor
The police can, and should, do an inventory sheet, but they are not automatically required to do so by law. If officers want to claim that they are searching vehicles pursuant to an inventory search, they do need to have a written inventory policy... and most will include a requirement of a written report in the form of an inventory sheet. An inventory search is an exception to the warrant requirement-- so it's important that officers follow their policies if they do not want the results of the inventory search tossed out during a pre-trial hearing.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.