Category Archives: Administrative search

OH5: When the trial court sustains a search on two grounds and only one is appealed, the decision will be affirmed

When the trial court sustains a search on two grounds and only one is appealed, the decision will be affirmed. State v. Alexander, 2025-Ohio-236 (4th Dist. Jan. 23, 2025). In an animal seizure case, state law requires a post-seizure administrative … Continue reading

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NY Albany Co.: Unrestrained administrative searches of cannabis stores violates 4A

Petitioners show a likelihood of success on their claim for injunctive relief from unrestrained “administrative inspections,” essentially without boundaries. Super Smoke N Save LLC v. N.Y. State Cannabis Control Bd., 2025 NY Slip Op 25009 (Albany Co. Jan. 13, 2025). … Continue reading

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C.D.Cal.: Warehouse used as a residence required admin. warrant for fire inspection

A fire inspection of a warehouse that was being used as a residence was subject to the administrative warrant requirement. No exception applies. Hannan v. L.A. Cty. Fire Dep’t, 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 235999 (C.D. Cal. Dec. 9, 2024). 2254 … Continue reading

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N.D.Ala.: A keycard found on def in a search incident for something else not suppressed

A keycard on defendant was properly seized incident to arrest. It wasn’t evidence of the crime of the arrest, but it was of another crime. United States v. Croom, 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 231419 (N.D. Ala. Dec. 2, 2024), adopted … Continue reading

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IA: Rental inspection ordinance not facially unconstitutional; administrative warrants required

The city’s rental property inspection ordinance does not fail under the state constitution’s search and seizure clause because it is not facially void in all circumstances. Administrative warrants can be obtained when there’s a proper showing. Singer v. City of … Continue reading

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W.D.Tex.: Texas Request to Examine Statute fails under Patel

Texas’s Request to Examine Statute (“RTE Statute”; Tex. Bus. Orgs. Code §§ 12.151-12.156) violates Patel. “The issue before the court and, accordingly, this Report and Recommendation are not about whether the Attorney General has a right to request information from … Continue reading

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C.D.Cal.: Requiring a building demolition permit doesn’t state a 4A claim

Requiring plaintiff to get a demolition permit of a building fails to state a claim because “Plaintiffs’ legal theory that the … actions result in a violation of their fourth amendments rights is unclear and conclusory.” Macy v. San Bernardino … Continue reading

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D.Me.: State mandated GPS tracking of lobster boats reasonable under closely regulated business exception

Under the closely regulated business exception, the State of Maine can require lobsterman to have GPS tracking on their boats. (It’s an important question and the plaintiffs are urged to appeal to the First Circuit.) Thompson v. Keliher, 2024 U.S. … Continue reading

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Immigration: Administrative Arrest Warrants: Armed Encounters Outside the Judicial Process

Administrative Arrest Warrants: Armed Encounters Outside the Judicial Process by Meg Mary Margaret Penrose, 33 Cornell J. L. & Pub. Pol. 389-435 (2024):

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S.D.Ill.: Code enforcement officer’s entry to construction site to stop work was not a “search”

A code enforcement officer’s entry onto plaintiff’s construction site to stop work in violation of the city code was not a Fourth Amendment search. And it was otherwise reasonable. Kindle v. Eisert, 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 198527 (S.D. Ill. Oct. … Continue reading

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Bloomberg Law: Texas’ 100-Plus Year Investigatory Tool Ruled Unconstitutional

Bloomberg Law: Texas’ 100-Plus Year Investigatory Tool Ruled Unconstitutional by Ryan Autullo (“A federal magistrate judge has struck down a 100-plus year old Texas statute authorizing the state’s attorney general to investigate certain businesses and organizations for violating state laws. … Continue reading

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CA5: The 4A doesn’t limit the number of officers that show up for an administrative search

This administrative search was valid. The number of officers showing up to do it isn’t a constitutional question. “Nor does the number of officers conducting the search change the inquiry. Hershner asserts no jurisprudential authority for the proposition that a … Continue reading

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D.Or.: The reporting requirements of the Corporate Transparency Act of 2021 do not violate the 4A or 5A

The reporting requirements of the Corporate Transparency Act of 2021 31 U.S.C. § 5336 do not violate the Fourth or Fifth Amendment under California Bankers Assn. v. Shutlz. Firestone v. Yellen, 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 170085 (D. Or. Sep. 20, … Continue reading

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W.D.Pa.: Electronic devices seized in California could be searched in Pennsylvania

Electronic devices seized in California could be searched in Pennsylvania. United States v. Carter, 2024 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 168014 (W.D. Pa. Sep. 18, 2024). Under established precedent, the smell of marijuana alone coming from defendant’s car permits a search of … Continue reading

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OH10: Mental health facilities are heavily regulated and consent to administrative searches

Residential mental health facilities are heavily regulated and consented to inspections as a condition of licensing. My Friend’s Place in Unity v. Ohio Dep’t of Mental Health, 2024-Ohio-3257, 2024 Ohio App. LEXIS 3067 (10th Dist. Aug. 27, 2024). Plaintiff’s Fourth … Continue reading

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NE: Despite municipal code requiring refusal of consent, 4A doesn’t require that before SW issues

The Omaha Municipal Code required refusal of consent before an inspection warrant is issued. The officer had probable cause for code violations when he sought the warrant. The warrant will not be suppressed because there is no Fourth Amendment requirement … Continue reading

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CA6: Ptfs showed standing for 4A claim over CTRs for cyptocurrency

Plaintiffs showed ripeness and standing for their Fourth Amendment claim over the requirement of cryptocurrency currency transaction reports under 26 U.S.C. § 6050I. Remanded, but taking no position on the claim. Carmen v. Yellen, 2024 U.S. App. LEXIS 20033 (6th … Continue reading

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N.D.Ohio: Gang members’ waving guns in Instagram post was RS for later stop

“To start, the Instagram video that showed Brown, McCullers, and others waving firearms and pointing them directly at the camera provided the officers with reasonable suspicion to stop the two men. That’s because, under Virginia law, it is ‘unlawful for … Continue reading

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CA8: “Reasonable grounds” in defendant’s probation search agreement means reasonable suspicion

“Reasonable grounds” in defendant’s probation search agreement means reasonable suspicion. United States v. Gaston, 2024 U.S. App. LEXIS 18600 (8th Cir. July 29, 2024). The company here orally consented to an administrative search for a workplace violation. While the notice … Continue reading

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CA5: San Antonio’s rental property inspection program doesn’t mandate inspections without warrant; preliminary injunction properly denied

“Although the Complexes are correct that the Fourth Amendment applies to the City’s inspectors, the PAIP [rental property inspection program] on its face does not authorize or mandate warrantless searches. Section 6-71, titled ‘Monitoring, inspection, and condition standard,’ does not … Continue reading

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