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According to Hampton, whether the officers can legally search your backpack often hinges on whether it is within your immediate control. The landmark case Chimel v. California establishes that after a lawful arrest, the police can search the area immediately surrounding the person, which may include a backpack if it is close by. However, if the backpack is several feet away, officers may need a warrant to justify the search.
Scenario Two: Traffic Stops and Your Vehicle
Consider a scenario where your backpack is in your vehicle during a routine traffic stop. Here, the law presents another layer of complexity: police can search your car without a warrant if they possess probable cause to believe it contains evidence of a crime.