The 4th Amendment protects against unreasonable searches.

The 4th Amendment protects against unreasonable searches.

The 4th Amendment to the United States Constitution guards citizens against illegal searches and seizures by police and government officials.  Here is the exact wording of the Amendment:

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."

The 4th Amendment was intended to prevent intrusive searches such as the warrantless and intrusive searches conducted by agencies such as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents at airports and other public places. By merely showing up to board a plane a person may be subject to an invasive full body search. 

Intrusive searches are the sort of unreasonable invasion of privacy that the Fourth Amendment was designed to prevent.

*The above information is very general in nature and should not be considered or relied upon as legal advice. If a reader has a legal problem immediately consult an attorney for specific legal advice. See the disclaimer at the bottom of the page for more information.

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