What are my rights to privacy regarding a police search?

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What are my rights to privacy regarding a police search?

A policeman came to my house to deliver me a ticket for driving without insurance. We were not home at the time. As there was no answer, said policeman took it upon himself to start peering into my windows. He saw something potentially incriminating and the next day my house was searched. Did he have a legal right to invade my privacy? It seems to me that he did not, as hand delivering a citation for no insurance is odd enough but then to peep into someone’s windows uninvited seems, well, criminal.

Asked on December 3, 2013 under Criminal Law, Wisconsin

Answers:

FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 10 years ago | Contributor

Under the laws of all states in this country when something is in plain view from a lawsful vantage there is no justifiable expectation of privacy. Based upon what you have written about, the search seems legal if there was a resulting search warrant. I suggest that you consult further with a criminal defense attorney.


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