Delaware v. Prouse (1978)
- Docket
- 77-1571
- Decided
- 1978-01-01
Summary
Question: Did the officer's search of Prouse's automobile constitute an unreasonable search and seizure under the Fourth Amendment? Conclusion: Yes. In an 8-to-1 decision, the Court held that the privacy interests of travelers outweighed the state interests in discretionary spot checks of automobiles. The Court found that random checks made only marginal contributions to roadway safety and compliance with registration requirements; less intrusive means could have been used to serve the same ends. Officers must be held to a "probable cause" standard for searches, otherwise individuals would be subject to "unfettered governmental intrusion" each time they entered an automobile.