Search and Seizure

Policy

How Cops Became Robbers

Three features of civil forfeiture law and five Supreme Court decisions make it easy for police to take money from motorists.

Jacob Sullum | 9.15.2014 8:30 AM

Policy

How Cops Got a License to Steal Your Money

Jacob Sullum | 9.12.2014 11:07 AM

Civil Liberties

Tacoma PD Joins the Ranks of Police Agencies Concealing Use of Cellphone Trackers

J.D. Tuccille | 8.27.2014 10:35 AM

Civil Liberties

Connecticut Court Says Cops Can Detain You For Being Near Someone That's Getting Arrested

Brittany Morrisey | 8.6.2014 4:45 PM

Politics

The Drug War, the Fourth Amendment, and Anal Cavity Searches in New Mexico

Paul Feine and Alex Manning | 8.2.2014 3:00 PM

Civil Liberties

U.S. Firms Dealt Another Blow by Order to Microsoft to Surrender Overseas Emails

J.D. Tuccille | 8.1.2014 12:07 PM

Internet

All Your Emails Belong to U.S.

Federal judge rules Microsoft can be forced to hand over data it stores in Ireland.

Reason Staff | 7.31.2014 3:05 PM

Civil Liberties

When a Cop Knocks on the Window, Just Drive Away (in Wisconsin)

J.D. Tuccille | 7.30.2014 3:04 PM

Civil Liberties

San Diego Cops Say Detaining, Photographing Strippers Just Part of Their Job

Elizabeth Nolan Brown | 7.18.2014 5:15 PM

Civil Liberties

Marijuana Smell Doesn't Justify Car Searches, Says MA Court

J.D. Tuccille | 7.17.2014 2:08 PM

Policy

Feds Take a Sudden Interest in Busting Home Distillers

Jacob Sullum | 7.15.2014 6:07 PM

Policy

Cop Rats Out His Daughter-in-Law After Helping Her Grow Marijuana for His Cancer-Stricken Granddaughter

Jacob Sullum | 7.7.2014 3:10 PM

Policy

Burned Babies and the Militarization of American Policing

Jacob Sullum | 6.24.2014 4:06 PM

Civil Liberties

US Marshals Seize FL Cops' Surveillance Records to Deny Them to ACLU

J.D. Tuccille | 6.4.2014 9:31 AM

Policy

How Cops Became Baby Burners

The horrifying collateral damage inflicted by the war on drugs

Jacob Sullum | 6.4.2014 7:00 AM

Policy

What It Takes for Cops to Break Into Your House, Kidnap You, and Steal Your Guns (Hint: It's Not a Warrant)

Jacob Sullum | 5.20.2014 6:49 PM

Police Abuse

Rapper Meek Mill Loses Lawsuit Over 10-Hour Traffic Stop in Philadelphia

Ed Krayewski | 5.2.2014 3:25 PM

Policy

SCOTUS Seems Inclined to Limit Police Access to Your Cellphone

Jacob Sullum | 4.29.2014 6:28 PM

Policy

Border Patrol Threatens Mother, Slashes Her Tire, as Kids Watch

J.D. Tuccille | 4.29.2014 5:37 PM

Civil Liberties

That Tracking Beacon You Call a Cell Phone At Issue in Florida Case

J.D. Tuccille | 4.25.2014 3:45 PM

Politics

John Paul Stevens, Leading Enabler of the War on Drugs, Says Pot Prohibition Was a Big Mistake

Jacob Sullum | 4.25.2014 1:34 PM

Civil Liberties

Border Patrol Harasses Local Protesters, Tells Them 'You Have No Rights Here'

J.D. Tuccille | 4.17.2014 3:26 PM

Policy

Mistaking Hibiscus for Marijuana, DEA Raids Gardener's Home

Jacob Sullum | 4.14.2014 12:26 PM

Policy

Why Bother With Drug-Sniffing Dogs If a Cop's Nose Can Authorize a Search?

Jacob Sullum | 3.31.2014 1:27 PM

Civil Liberties

If You Don't Want a SWAT Team at Your Door, You Shouldn't Be Drinking Tea

Jacob Sullum | 3.26.2014 2:31 PM

Civil Liberties

Edward Snowden and NSA Flack Duke it Out (Sort of) Over Spying in TED Talks

J.D. Tuccille | 3.25.2014 12:27 PM

Civil Liberties

Domestic Spying Requires a New Probe, Say Former Church Committee Members

J.D. Tuccille | 3.17.2014 2:39 PM

Civil Liberties

Thank You, Edward Snowden!

Ronald Bailey | 3.15.2014 12:00 PM

Civil Liberties

Edward Snowden: NSA Too Busy Spying on Americans To Catch Terrorists

J.D. Tuccille | 3.10.2014 11:37 AM

Civil Liberties

Verizon Reveals More About Federal Spying on Customers

In 2013, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court ordered Verizon to surrender data for thousands of customers.

Josh Peterson | 3.4.2014 10:00 AM

Civil Liberties

Arizonans Want Abusive Border Patrol Checkpoint Removed From Their Town

J.D. Tuccille | 2.27.2014 2:20 PM

Zero Tolerance

Zero Tolerance Teaches Students Important Lessons About Authority: Don't Share Information, Don't Consent to Searches

Suspended for honest mistakes and good faith efforts

Ed Krayewski | 2.26.2014 12:35 PM

Civil Liberties

The 'Crime' of Having a Hidden Compartment in Your Car

In drug cases, hidden compartment laws give prosecutors one more charge to pile onto the same offense, and contain scant protections for law-abiding folk.

John Ross | 2.16.2014 12:00 PM

Civil Liberties

Texas Grand Jury Declines to Indict Pot Grower Who Shot and Killed a Cop During an Early-Morning Raid

Jacob Sullum | 2.7.2014 3:02 PM

Politics

Obama's Privacy Epiphany

Why it's hard to believe the president is serious about surveillance reform

Jacob Sullum | 1.22.2014 7:00 AM

Cellphones

Supreme Court To Decide If the Fourth Amendment Applies to Police Searches of Smart Phones

Ronald Bailey | 1.18.2014 10:31 AM

Policy

Obama Suddenly Realizes Mass Surveillance Threatens Privacy

Jacob Sullum | 1.17.2014 1:00 PM

Politics

Could Obama's Unlimited Faith in Himself Explain His Sudden Loss of Interest in Protecting Americans' Privacy?

Jacob Sullum | 1.16.2014 12:07 PM

Civil Liberties

Silver Lining in Supreme Court Not Overturning A Decision About Computer Searches at Border

Brian Doherty | 1.15.2014 3:15 PM

Policy

Court Upholds Border Gadget Searches

For any reason at all

Reason Staff | 12.31.2013 5:40 PM

Policy

New York Customs Destroys Canadian Man's Flutes

Called the bamboo instruments "agricultural products"

Reason Staff | 12.31.2013 2:50 PM

Policy

Requiring Hotel Owners to Turn Over Guest Info Ruled Unconstitutional

Get a warrant

Reason Staff | 12.26.2013 5:30 PM

Policy

Ohio Judge Rules That Police Can't Search You For Being "Overly Polite"

Jess Remington | 12.4.2013 5:59 PM

Civil Liberties

Court Hearing Raises Questions About Bust For Secret Car Compartment

How was a guy from Georgia supposed to know that empty space is illegal in Ohio?

Ken Silva | 11.27.2013 10:00 AM

Policy

Yes, a Man in Ohio Is Facing Prison Time Entirely for Having a Secret Car Compartment

Norman Gurley faces up to 18 months if convicted

Scott Shackford | 11.25.2013 10:50 AM

Policy

Second Case of Man Anally Probed Following Traffic Stop Uncovered

No consent or search warrant

Reason Staff | 11.6.2013 2:10 PM

Policy

Feds Confiscate Reporter's Files in Raid

Raid was on a completely unrelated matter about firearms

Reason Staff | 10.25.2013 7:00 PM