Can the police search your car for running a red light?

Answer 1

The police cannot search a vehicle unless they have a warrant for an arrest on the driver or any passenger, or they have reason to suspect that person is under the influence of drugs or alcohol use, or committed robbery or something. But, if a person runs a red light, that is reason enough to believe anything.

For officer safety, they can search the "lunge area," the area immediately within the drivers reach. Also, they don't have to have a warrant for arrest, they can perform an "administrative (inventory) search" subsequent to the arrest of the driver, if the driver is arrested for any reason, warrant or not. "Reason to suspect" is not adequate; they have to have "probable cause." While running a red light might be reason enough for "mere suspicion," it is not enough to search the entire vehicle. They can also ask the driver for consent to search (which should never be granted); most give consent even when they know there are illegal items in the vehicle. (I guess they think they will look suspicious if they don't and that the police won't find anything.) And finally, if a narcotics detection dog alerts on the outside of the vehicle, that gives probable cause to search.