Why must evidence be capable of being concealed in passenger belongings for a search to occur?

The requirement for evidence to be capable of being concealed in passenger belongings for a search to occur is primarily rooted in the principles of the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures. This principle emphasizes the need for lawful access to items being searched.

When law enforcement conducts a search, they must establish probable cause and a reasonable belief that the belongings contain items related to criminal activity or evidence of a crime. If the evidence in question could be hidden or stored away within those belongings, it justifies the need for a more thorough examination during the search. This rationale ensures that the search is not arbitrary or overreaching, but specifically targeted toward items that could provide relevant evidence.

By stipulating that evidence must be capable of concealment, the legal framework also helps to protect individual privacy rights, ensuring that searches do not extend beyond legitimate interests. Thus, it aligns the justification for the search with the necessity to uncover pertinent evidence while balancing the rights of individuals against the needs of law enforcement.