If a motorhome is parked in a public parking lot and you have probable cause to believe illegal drug activity is occurring inside, may you enter the motorhome without a warrant if the motorhome is readily movable?

• A. Yes, if the motorhome is readily capable of movement.
• B. No, you must have a warrant regardless.
• C. Yes, because the suspect could be dangerous.
• D. No, unless the owner consents.

Answer: (A)

The rule being tested is the automobile exception to the Fourth Amendment. When police have probable cause to believe a vehicle contains evidence of a crime, they may search the vehicle without a warrant because vehicles have a reduced expectation of privacy and can be moved quickly to prevent destruction of evidence. A motorhome, if it is readily movable, falls under this vehicle category. In other words, even though it's parked in a public lot, its capacity to be moved makes it subject to a warrantless search or entry when there’s probable cause to believe illegal drugs are inside.

If the motorhome could not be moved readily—if it were effectively fixed in place—the automatic warrantless-entry justification would not apply, and a warrant would generally be required (absent another exception like consent or exigent circumstances).