Through this decision, the Supreme Court broadly increased the right of police officers to search automobiles without a search warrant as long as they have probable cause.
In Robbins v. California
Justice Thurgood Marshall dissented in Ross, arguing that police officer are not trained as magistrate and should not have the same powers as magistrates to determine probable cause.
By a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court largely abandoned Robbins and ruled that packages in automobiles could be searched without a warrant if the police had probable cause the same standard a magistrate should use in issuing a warrant. Justice Thurgood Marshall dissented, arguing that a police officer was not trained as a magistrate and should not be given the same power as a magistrate to determine probable cause. Justice William J. Brennan, Jr., joined in the dissent, and Justice Byron R. White agreed with it.
Automobile searches
Due process, procedural
Exclusionary rule
Fourth Amendment
Mapp v. Ohio
Maryland v. Buie
Michigan Department of State Police v. Sitz
Search warrant requirement