Justices: Warrant required to search hotel registries
By Adam Liptak, New York Times
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday struck down a Los Angeles ordinance that allowed the police to inspect hotel and motel guest registries without permission from a judge. In a second decision, the courtclarified the standards for excessive force claims against corrections officers from people awaiting trial.
Both cases were decided by 5-to-4 votes, with the court’s more liberal members in the majority.
The case concerning hotel registries is likely to have a broad impact, as dozens of cities allow warrantless searches, which law enforcement officials say help them catch fugitives and fight prostitution and drug dealing.
One should expect “law enforcement officials” to be aware of such legalities as the Fourth Amendment. Searches without due process are illegal. No matter how “necessary” illegal searches are to their perceived success, they are still illegal. Law enforcement whims do not negate the Constitution.