Can probable cause for the warrantless search of an automobile arise after the car is stopped?

Probable cause for the warrantless search of an automobile can indeed arise after the car is stopped, but it must be established before conducting any searches. This principle is rooted in the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

When law enforcement officers stop a vehicle, they may initially lack probable cause for a search. However, if, during the stop, they observe contraband or other evidence of a crime, that newly discovered information can provide the necessary probable cause to justify a search of the vehicle. The key aspect is that once probable cause is established, officers are permitted to conduct a search without a warrant and without delay.

This understanding aligns with the automobile exception to the warrant requirement, which holds that vehicles can be searched without a warrant if there is probable cause established that they contain evidence of a crime, including after the stop has occurred. Therefore, it is crucial that the probable cause necessary for conducting a search is established before the search takes place, even if it comes to light after the initial stop.