LITITZ BOROUGH - The LBPD has posted the updated agency policy governing warrantless searches (General Order 1.2.3 - Procedures to Follow Relating to Search and Seizure without Warrant). This policy revision reflects required procedural changes resulting from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Commonwealth v. Alexander, concerning warrantless vehicle searches.

In the Alexander case, the PA Supreme Court held that for a warrantless search of a vehicle to be valid, there must be a showing of both probable cause and exigent circumstances. The exigent circumstances must be more than the inherent mobility of the vehicle and the officer must be able to provide specific, articulable circumstances, known to the officer at the time if they wish to search the vehicle.

This updated general order is now instantly publicly available in its entirety, and is free of any redactions.

Media contact: Media@LititzPD.org