Under what condition can an officer search a vehicle without a warrant according to the Carroll Doctrine?

The Carroll Doctrine allows law enforcement officers to search a vehicle without a warrant when they have probable cause to believe that the vehicle contains evidence of criminal activity. This principle is based on the notion that vehicles are inherently mobile, which can allow evidence to be quickly removed or destroyed before a warrant can be obtained.

When an officer perceives sufficient facts to justify a reasonable belief that a vehicle has illicit items or evidence related to a crime, that probable cause enables them to perform a search right then and there. This notion balances the need for effective law enforcement with the rights of individuals, as it recognizes the unique circumstances surrounding automobiles as opposed to fixed premises.

While verbal consent from a driver does allow for a search, the underlying condition that empowers the officer to search without a warrant rests specifically on the existence of probable cause, also emphasizing situations with stolen vehicles and public property do not inherently grant the authority to bypass a warrant without probable cause.