No. 16-1027October Term 2017Decided May 29, 2018
Collins v. Virginia
In this case, a police officer entered a home's driveway without a warrant to lift a tarp and search a motorcycle parked near the house.
Case status
- Current stage
- Decided
- Latest event
- Decision released May 29, 2018
- What it's about
In this case, a police officer entered a home's driveway without a warrant to lift a tarp and search a motorcycle parked near the house. The Supreme Court ruled that the Fourth Amendment's automobile exception does not allow police to enter a home or its immediate surroundings without a warrant to search a vehicle.
Question presented
Does the Fourth Amendment's automobile exception permit a police officer without a warrant to enter private property in order to search a vehicle parked a few feet from the house?
- Case path
Supreme Court of Virginia / Decision released May 29, 2018
- Area
Criminal Procedure
Related cases
Grounding
- Grounding
- Primary-source trail available.
- Note
- Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
- Checked
- May 31, 2026
- Method
- Methodology