What Signs of Cocaine Possession Can an Officer Spot From Outside a Vehicle?

In North Carolina, police officers need a valid reason before they can search your vehicle for drugs. They might use various excuses to carry out a search, but only searches for valid reasons are legal under North Carolina law. If they carry out an illegal search, anything they find in your vehicle becomes inadmissible as evidence. So what kind of signs might lead to a legal search for cocaine in North Carolina?

The Smell of Cocaine

Unlike many other states, North Carolina allows officers to search vehicles based on the scent of drugs alone. This is called the “Plain Smell Doctrine,” and it can be applied to marijuana, cocaine, heroin, and other drugs. 

Of course, cocaine does not have a strong scent, and the average human cannot smell the presence of this drug from outside a vehicle. However, police officers often use K9 units to assist in drug operations, and these dogs have a much more attuned sense of smell. As a result, a K9 unit may alert police officers to the presence of drugs inside a vehicle. This can lead to a legal search in many situations. 

Signs of Cocaine Impairment

Police might also execute a search based on your alleged signs of impairment. The signs of cocaine intoxication might include bloodshot eyes, jittery movements, or speaking very quickly. If a police officer feels that you are high on cocaine, they might use this as a justification to search your vehicle. 

That being said, the signs of cocaine can be extremely subjective. Bloodshot eyes could be caused by allergies, and you might be speaking quickly because you are nervous about interacting with law enforcement. An experienced lawyer might be able to challenge the officer’s observations and argue that you did not really show any signs of intoxication. 

Visible Containers of Cocaine 

Perhaps the most obvious sign of cocaine possession is visible containers of drugs. If a police officer looks into your vehicle and sees a baggy of white powder lying in plain view, they are probably justified in carrying out a search. 

Situations become quite complex if the container in question did not actually contain cocaine. For example, you might have been carrying a bag of flour or sugar for some reason. If police search your vehicle after noticing these “drugs,” then you might be able to escape consequences if they find other illegal substances. However, you probably need to discuss this situation with an experienced defense attorney. 

Can a North Carolina Defense Attorney Help With Cocaine Possession?

A North Carolina defense attorney may be able to help if you have been accused of cocaine possession. A defense strategy based on a potentially illegal and unconstitutional search can be extremely effective under the right circumstances. However, you should know that the most appropriate strategy depends on your unique circumstances, and a different approach might make more sense. To learn more, contact Coastal South Law today.