Category Archives: Administrative search

CA4: Trash container in open at curb was not on curtilage under Dunn factors

Trash at the curb for pickup was not on the curtilage under Dunn. The area was wide open. United States v. Lipford, 2021 U.S. App. LEXIS 12697 (4th Cir. Apr. 28, 2021). Factual disputes aside, this much is undisputed: “The … Continue reading

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W.D.Wash.: Test-firing a firearm to help identify it is a reasonable search

“The Court concludes the test-firing of the weapon was a search. It was test-fired for one sole purpose and that was to gain identifying data on the retained shell casing for subsequent submission to a database of shell casings obtained … Continue reading

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CA9: Changing argument from disputing facts of PC to facts don’t show PC is waiver

“Bruno changed his argument on appeal. In the district court, he disputed the government’s factual representations supporting the search of his apartment. On appeal, he no longer argues that the search warrant application contained factual inaccuracies or material omissions. Rather, … Continue reading

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CA2: Even if an administrative search was pretext for a criminal search, there was an independent basis for later SW

Defendants argued that an administrative search was a pretext for a criminal search. A later search warrant was based on independent information from state wiretaps. “Here, assuming arguendo that the administrative search was improper, suppression of the evidence obtained from … Continue reading

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NY: Tenants can consent to a rental property inspection

In a rental property inspection, the tenants consented, and that was constitutionally sufficient. Town of Huntington v. CFLNYNY, LLC, 2021 NY Slip Op 50009(U), 2021 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 27 (Suffolk Co. Jan. 7, 2021).* There was probable cause for a … Continue reading

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IN: Admin. inspector’s entry onto yard for housing code violation didn’t violate 4A

A city inspector followed state statute and entered upon a homeowner’s property after he saw a deck and above ground pool being built in violation of the local housing code. The entry was reasonable and did not require a administrative … Continue reading

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IL: Ct of Apps erred in reaching 4A claim in civil discovery dispute involving state AG when it didn’t have to

This case involves a civil discovery dispute between the state and a recycling business for an environmental inspection. The court of appeals erred in jumping to a Fourth Amendment claim without attempting to decide the case on nonconstitutional grounds under … Continue reading

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NY, Kings Co.: Admin order to enter for environmental concerns needs only programmatic purpose

The Department of Environmental Conservation needed only a programmatic purpose for its administrative probable cause for a court order for access to respondent’s property. Matter of State of New York, Department of Environmental Conservation v. 735 Bedford LLC, 2020 NY … Continue reading

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KS: One who doesn’t have an administrative license can’t challenge the administrative search scheme under it

An unlicensed entertainment establishment has no standing to challenge the administrative search provision under the licensing scheme. City of Wichita v. Trotter, 2020 Kan. App. LEXIS 69 (Sept. 25, 2020):

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CT Tax & Admin.: Order to DoC employees to search their cell phones for public records was excessive

An agency order to employees to search their personal cell phones for copies of public records is in excess of agency authority. Comm’r of the Dep’t of Corr. v. Freedom of Info. Comm’n, 2020 Conn. Super. LEXIS 1004 (Tax & … Continue reading

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D.N.H.: State liquor agents’ entry into public areas of licensee was reasonable as under administrative authority

NH state liquor agents didn’t violate the Fourth Amendment by entering public space of a regulated establishment to issue verbal warnings. The state supreme court has already held that liquor licensees were highly regulated businesses. E. Coast Serv. Indus. Co. … Continue reading

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CA10: EPA subpoena to determine cost of cleanup was within agency jurisdiction and was reasonable

An EPA subpoena to determine whether this mine could pay for the cost of a cleanup was within the agency’s jurisdiction and valid and did not violate the Fourth Amendment. United States v. United Park City Mines Co., 2020 U.S. … Continue reading

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CA4: Administrative search by nonregulatory officer invoking regulatory processes was unreasonable

A stop of a regulated truck for a regulatory inspection by an nonregulatory officer was unreasonable under the administrative search doctrine. Otherwise, it upends the Burger scheme. United States v. Feliciana, 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 28881 (4th Cir. Sept. 11, … Continue reading

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CA9: Motel operator in Los Angeles fails to state Patel claim

Plaintiff’s second amended complaint didn’t state a City of Los Angeles v. Patel claim. “The SAC’s allegation that the Motel’s registration records were searched pursuant to a CUP condition that was imposed by a vote of the City Council provides … Continue reading

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CA9: Bringing police with criminal investigative motive to execute admin. warrant was unreasonable

An administrative inspection warrant is based on a programmatic probable cause standard, and not probable cause to believe that a crime occurred. Using the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office to help do a City of Lancaster administrative entry and search … Continue reading

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CA1: Drunk underage partiers puking outside and going back in justified a community caretaking entry to see if anyone was in distress

Drunk underage partiers puking outside and going back in justified a community caretaking entry to see if anyone was in distress. Castagna v. Jean, 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 11357 (1st Cir. Apr. 10, 2020). The use of an administrative warrant … Continue reading

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CA10: Criminal history checks may be run in any stop under Rodriguez

Criminal history checks are reasonable under any traffic stop because they negligibly extend the stop. This court held that en banc in 2001 in a case relied upon in Rodriguez. Other circuits are in accord. United States v. Mayville, 2020 … Continue reading

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Quarantines and the Fourth Amendment

Is a government quarantine order for a person or group of people a violation of the Fourth Amendment as a reasonable seizure? Despite being an ardent civil libertarian, I must conclude the Constitution means: No.   Protection from infectious diseases … Continue reading

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CA9: Facial challenge to housing inspection ordinance fails because there is an administrative warrant provision

Plaintiffs’ facial challenge to Los Angeles’ housing inspection ordinance fails because it isn’t unconstitutional in all applications. An administrative warrant provision is provided for. Garris v. City of Los Angeles, 2020 U.S. App. LEXIS 8361 (9th Cir. Mar. 17, 2020). … Continue reading

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ID: Dep. of Environmental Quality didn’t violate any REP by entering where it’s open to the public

The state Department of Environmental Quality inspectors did not violate respondent’s reasonable expectation of privacy by entering. His property was open “24/7” to the public. Idaho Dep’t of Envtl. Quality v. Gibson, 2020 Ida. LEXIS 48 (Mar. 11, 2020):

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