Can Police Search Your RV Without A Warrant?

In today's video, we delve into the circumstances under which your RV may be searched without a warrant vs. protection under the 4th Amendment. We also discuss the factors that determine whether your RV is considered a vehicle or a residence.

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We are Tom & Caitlin Morton and we are the Mortons on the Move. We are co-hosts of 'The RVers' TV Show on the Discovery Channel, PBS, and Fun Roads TV. We are the Creators of the 'Go North' series available on Amazon Prime and YouTube. We've lived full-time in an RV since 2015.


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[Rick-xh]

Let me add this, , as a combat veteran and love this country and pay my bill and taxes and avid rv’ers I’m a constitutional schooler and involved with civil rights. I’ve found many cop’s ignorant of the constitution. Make it easy for yourselves motorhome or not. If they want your license and all fine but make them tell you what they are pulling you over for. Do not allow no searches even if they have reasonable articulated suspicion and invoke the 5th say absolutely nothing to them. They are not your pals and are sneaky, don’t be afraid or intimidated. That’s the tactics they use. Hate to say if, but it’s true.

[kenmartin]

Like your channel. I’m a retired California Deputy Sheriff. Every state is different in trying to answer this question.
In California police and CHP do traffic, Deputies do crime which doesn’t mean we don’t help each other or “do” the others primary job.
In CA, RV’s are considered “house cars” which have labeling designation as such.
I never messed with any “house car” on the road or parked that was decent.
Obviously CA has a large homeless population that cause huge nuisances for any residential or business area.
POS (pieces of $hit) RV’s get extra attention.
Parking in an area to long, (on a street) can get attention.
Registration expired over 6 months means I can tow your vehicle to an impound lot. This requires an inventory of its contents which gets me into your “home”.
Fish & Game wardens have extra latitudes as far as searches if your actively or recently fish/hunting. The courts allow greater latitude for this.
Trying to train someone on how to behave in these situations can be difficult.
I’m not a lawyer either.
Schoolies busses might be the only thing where they could be “profiled” incorrectly.
Profiling has nothing to do with race, it’s criminal activity that no one wants in their neighborhood. “Say something that’s out of place” kinda thing.
I’ve meet great schoolie peeps and with kids.
My advise, don’t consent. If you are open have nothing to hide it’s up to the individual.
If you think yours rights are being violated but a search is demanded, submit with further verbal denials with no delay or physical blockage.
Courts and cases, along with arguments are for thencourt, not on the side of the road, parking at a business, or private property.
There are rare but extenuated circumstances that allow searches as well because of information from the public that cannot be ignored, ie, children in danger is one but there are more.
California Law Enforcement (say what you will about CA) have probably the best training per cop than any other state and we work with typically 30-50% of officers required per 100k of FBI standards.
Be decent, and don’t worry. Enjoy your time on the road. I hope to see you all out there.
We are currently in Utah and soon to be in Texas.

[Mike-]

According to what I read American police officers get on average 647 hours of training were in contrast a barber gets 1300 hours of training. What you find is lot of officers who don't understand the laws.

[NormanPaul]

You don't have to answer questions, say you invoke the 5th amendment. If driving your RV you will have to show valid drivers license, registration, and proof of insurance.

[chrisdaniel]

Never, Never answer an officers questions, they are looking for anything to give them probable cause to search the vehicle or other crimes to charge you with. Always video your interaction with LEO's, they love to violate citizens rights and when they do you have evidence for a lawsuit. Have a dash cam that records your GPS speed so when the officer tells you some made up speed above the speed limit you can either ask the lying officer whether he/she want to reconsider the statement they just made or just take the ticket got to court and have it resolved or go right to the PD show them the evidence, get the ticket cleared and file a formal complaint with the police department. Also if the cop was lying it can also be considered a 4th amendment violation as the officer 'seized' the driver unlawfully by stopping the person when no crime was committed. Thus you could get a lawyer and file a violation of civil rights lawsuit against the cop, their department, and the city.

[opa_plays_mw]

I spent 5 years in RV and Boat depending on the seasons and Hurricanes. Boats are different - if moving so are RV's and car's. Local laws do NOT preempt the Constitution - and you should clearly state that to preserve your right (it will matter in a lawsuit and they can't claim ignorance).
The bottom line is you can't stop the cops from searching, so don't - and don't keep illegal shit in your procession.
Suing for civil rights violations is a rather lucrative way of paying off boats and RV's. Ask me how I know.

[InsideOut]

They sure as hell TAX you like it's a dwelling. No, you may not search my dwelling.

[thomaspepper]

There is a difference if it's a drivable RV or a tow behind, Drivable they will enter. Towable, dog hits dope there in. Otherwise warrant is needed, a locked closed box your are not in or readily available to, forces warrant, is what a cop told me.

[russquattlebaum]

As a retired truck driver and used to the law associated with that never thought to question RVs it was most interesting to see this! Thanks for clearing up something I didn't know I needed to know...lol Keep'em coming

[BeerIndependenceAll]

NEVER consent to a warrantless search. If you exercise your constitutional right and police retaliate because they resent it... Well, that's a lawsuit. I consented to a vehicle search when I was in high school (1979). They dug around, found nothing, and left without any explanation. Why did I consent? Because I had received a traffic ticket and went to court for having removed the rear bumper to work on my car at the school's body shop. Taking it on and off daily would have wasted most of my class time, so I had just left it off, but did have the plate on the back since it was a VW bug. I feared getting another ticket from this local cop if I said no to the search. However, since then I have told all my friends that if a cop ever says I consented to a warrantless search that cop is a liar. Stand up for your rights! You have 4th amendment rights in your car. They MUST have probable cause or exigent circumstances. They cannot go on a fishing expedition... even in a car... unless you let them. That's your call, but I assure you they are not getting a pass to search any vehicle of mine nor will I invite them inside my house or RV without a warrant... even if it is raining.

[robind.]

Probable cause is that the officer has reasonable suspicion that you have either committed a crime, or are in the process of committing a crime. An officer does not have the right to randomly search your vehicle, whether it be a Car, or an RV, for no apparent reason. I do not agree with your description of when they can search your car.

[Sadie]

Be polite, but don't answer questions. Assert your 5th amendment rights. Police routinely do "pretextual stops" and go on a "fishing expedition" looking for anything to get a random arrest. They can not search your car or RV unless they have "probable cause" that a crime has happened or exigent circumstances exist.

[pscearcy]

Don't snitch on yourself. You don't have to answer questions.

[shekharmoona]

They better have probable cause. Many RV'rs keep personal weapons for security in their RV. It's no one's business what you have if you are a law abiding citizen.

[nathanurick]

As a retired police officer and a long time rver this question sorta bothers me and this is why. In this day and age police officers have a very tough job and every day it gets worse. Thanks to social media and activist that like to stand in front of a camera police officers get a very bad rap from a large portion of the public. Yes I know there is a bad officer out on those streets right now but there is a bad teacher, doctors, priest mechanics and every other job that you can think of. We will never stop bad people but what we can stop is calling all police officers, priest and teachers bad. If I treated everybody like I treated the worst killer I’ve ever put in prison you all would be horrible people but I know that’s not true so I don’t. When you come in contact with a police officer just treat him or her how you want to be treated. If he ask you for your ID just give it to him, don’t ask why or just say no. Nobody goes to work every day wanting to fight or hurt people, not even police officers. The things I see on tv news nowadays is absolutely sickening and it’s because so many people have lost the ability to show respect. How about we all just learn how to respect each other.

[brianr]

The answer is a resounding NO ! Ur rv has the same status as ur home !

[carlschiel]

This is my own private domicile and I will not be harassed!

[moroteseoinage]

They can search your vehicle. It’s at the discretion of the judge if any evidence the police collect is admissible in court.

[iflick]

I remember when they pinched Willie Nelson, possession of a controlled substance (cannabis) in his RV. The police told him if he had his way he, he would leave him along side the road with a bullet in his head.

[caddyzig]

I love that shirt, Tom! What brand is it?