Searches and Seizures in Drug Cases

When you are facing drug charges, working closely with an attorney who will explain clearly all your rights, options and potential consequences can help to ensure that you make decision that are in your best interests. Contact our firm today to schedule a consultation and case evaluation with an experienced criminal defense attorney.

How Will Drug Charges Affect You?

At Tad Nelson & Associates in League City, we represent people throughout Texas who are facing drug charges. In a crowded legal profession, our ability to combine big city experience and small town values sets us apart.

Below, we have included some general information about drug crimes in Texas. However, for advice specific to the circumstances of your own case, please contact us directly to speak with a board-certified* criminal defense lawyer.

*The Texas Board of Legal Specialization certifies attorneys in 20 specific areas of law; certification in any of these areas requires substantial demonstrated experience and skill, positive peer evaluations, ongoing legal education commitments, and the passage of a rigorous test.

Thank you for contacting The Law Offices of Tad Nelson & Associates. Your message has been sent.

Call us now

or use the form below.

Attorney Tad Nelson is committed to defending the rights of people in the Houston and Galveston metro areas who face drug charges. He is board certified* in criminal trial law and as a drug recognition expert.

Drug charges could have a serious effect on the rest of your life. If you are facing drug charges, call 281-6667-4579, toll-free 866-550-8295 or contact us online today.

The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects individuals against unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. Particularly in drug cases, the legality of how law enforcement officials obtained the evidence used to support the State's case is a central and often-challenged issue. If the government's conduct violated the Fourth Amendment, the evidence is deemed inadmissible. Without the necessary evidence to prove the criminal charges, the State may have to dismiss its case against a defendant. If you have been charged with a drug crime, contact Tad Nelson & Associates in League City, Texas, today to schedule a consultation with a criminal defense attorney who can advise you whether the evidence leading the charge may have resulted from an illegal search or seizure.

The Fourth Amendment provides:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated; and no Warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

In addition, similar provisions in each state's constitution may afford even greater protections.

Warrants and the Protection of Privacy

Fourth Amendment protections apply to situations where persons have a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as their home or personal communications, for instance. However, whether the expectation is "reasonable" is the key to whether it is protected by the Constitution. Reasonableness is context-specific. The court looks at an individual's intention to keep something private and whether the expectation is one that society is willing to recognize as reasonable. Just as standards of privacy are constantly changing in society, Fourth Amendment law is also constantly evolving.

The government can intrude on such a zone of privacy only if the search or seizure is reasonable. Generally, a "reasonable" search or seizure is one supported by a warrant. The warrant itself has to be valid. A warrant is valid if issued by a neutral judicial official, supported by probable cause and specifically identifies the person or thing to be searched or seized. To establish "probable cause," the law enforcement officer has to present facts that would lead a reasonable person to believe that a crime is being, or has been, committed.

Exceptions to the Warrant Requirement

The Supreme Court has recognized a number of exceptions to the warrant requirement. A warrantless search or seizure is still "reasonable" if there is probable cause and certain circumstances exist that make getting a warrant impractical or impossible. These exceptions include:

Search incident to arrest: searching a person after a lawful arrest to locate weapons and/or prevent the destruction of evidence
Consent: when an individual voluntarily waives his or her Fourth Amendment rights
Plain view: searching or seizing objects in plain view, if an officer has a legal right to be in that position where he or she is viewing the objects
Automobile exception: searching vehicles if an officer has probable cause to believe there is contraband inside and it would be moved before a warrant can be obtained
Exigent circumstances: when there is no opportunity to obtain a warrant due to an emergency situation, e.g., life is at risk

Besides these exceptions, law enforcement officers can conduct limited detentions and frisks without a warrant if they have an articulable suspicion that criminal activity is occurring.

Contact a Criminal Defense Attorney

Analyzing whether a search or seizure was legal requires a close look at many factors. In a drug case, a successful challenge to evidence can mean the difference between a dismissal and a conviction. Contact Tad Nelson & Associates in League City, Texas, today to schedule a consultation with a criminal defense lawyer to discuss your situation and learn about your rights and options.

DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent legal counsel for advice on any legal matter.

Back to Main