Excerpt from Attorney Ralph Behr’s Book. Street Smarts- Criminal Law 1.01 – Search and Seizure. Can the Police Look into My Yard?

by Law Offices of Ralph Behr

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100 ‘most asked ‘ questions

CAN THE POLICE LOOK INTO MY YARD?

Yes.

The police can look into your yard with binoculars, from airplanes, from a neighbor’s yard, from anywhere.

If an officer is lawfully in a place from which he can view your home or yard it is with the Plainview exception to the search warrant requirement.

Looking into your yard can also mean examining your trash if it is put out for trash pickup.

You do not have any expectation of privacy in any garbage which is placed in a garbage container and left for pick up. That means your trash can be pulled and examined by police.