Re: PDAs are searchable by cops, I expect. Re: Transparency, was re: On January 28th, Criminals No Longer Another Face ...

From: Michael M. Butler (butler@comp-lib.org)
Date: Mon Feb 05 2001 - 09:50:48 MST

Ross Finlayson wrote:
>
> "Michael M. Butler" wrote:
> > But today, in the US, once you are under arrest, police powers to search
> > you and separate you from your possessions goes way up. I can't speak
> > about other countries.
>
> I think it is perhaps not that bad.
>
> The police have not that many rights beyond what any other citizien has.

Perhaps you are not reading carefully. I said "once you are under
arrest". Arrest is not detainment, and it's not conversation.

"Rights"? It's more proper to speak of police _powers_.

I agree that an individual policeman has the same rights as I have. Im
the jurisdictions I keep tabs on, however, their powers to arrest are
significantly stronger. And, once one is arrested, they can legitimately
search one's person.

Exactly what that means might vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction;
but I do know that they don't need a warrant to put everything one has
with one into a bag _once one is under arrest_. That comes with the
booking, usually.

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