October Term 2017 · Docket 16-1027
Does the Fourth Amendment protect a vehicle parked in a driveway?
The dispute centers on whether police may search a vehicle in a driveway without a warrant.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Mr. Fitzgerald argued the automobile exception cannot override home protections.
He stated officers may not search vehicles anywhere based on probable cause alone.
Mr. Cox argued the search occurred outside the home's bright-line boundary.
He noted the officer had probable cause before entering the driveway.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 31-53 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 31-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-1
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of the Fourth Amendment. It asks if the home's protection extends to a driveway. The core issue is the validity of the automobile exception in this specific location.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 9, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the search declared unconstitutional.
The state wants the search upheld as lawful.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the automobile exception does not apply to driveways.
The state argues the search occurred outside the home's bright-line boundary.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked about the relevance of a tarp covering the vehicle.
Justice Sotomayor asked what difference the tarp made to the legal analysis.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 31-53 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 31-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-1
Why it matters
This case defines the boundary of home privacy. It determines where police may search vehicles without a warrant. The outcome shapes future searches in driveways and similar areas.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 49-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 49-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 31-53 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 31-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-19 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 37-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 37-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 53-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 53-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-1 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-1
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 34, lines 13-33 — Transcript, file page 34, lines 13-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-9
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.