texas brown argued january decided april fort worth police officer stopped respondent automobile night routine driver license checkpoint asked license shined flashlight car saw opaque green party balloon knotted near tip fall respondent hand seat beside based experience drug offense arrests officer aware narcotics frequently packaged balloons respondent searching glove compartment license officer shifted position obtain better view noticed small plastic vials loose white powder open bag party balloons glove compartment respondent stated driver license possession complied officer request get car officer picked green balloon seemed contain powdery substance within portion respondent advised arrest inventory search car conducted items seized suppression hearing respondent trial unlawful possession heroin police department chemist testified heroin contained balloon seized officer narcotics frequently packaged suppression evidence denied respondent convicted texas criminal appeals reversed holding evidence suppressed obtained violation fourth amendment rejecting state contention plain view doctrine justified seizure concluded coolidge new hampshire doctrine apply must officer legitimately position view object also must immediately apparent police evidence thus officer know incriminating evidence seized balloon held judgment reversed case remanded reversed remanded justice rehnquist joined chief justice justice white justice concluded police officer violate fourth amendment seizing green balloon respondent automobile doctrine provides grounds warrantless seizure suspicious item officer access item prior justification fourth amendment rule merely reflects application fourth amendment central requirement reasonableness law governing seizures property officer initial stop respondent vehicle valid actions shining flashlight car changing position see inside violate fourth amendment rights immediately apparent language coolidge supra establish requirement police officer know certain items contraband evidence crime seizure property plain view involves invasion privacy presumptively reasonable assuming probable cause associate property criminal activity payton new york probable cause flexible standard merely requiring facts available officer warrant man reasonable caution believe certain items may contraband stolen property useful evidence crime demand showing belief correct likely true false view police officer testimony corroborated police department chemist common use balloons packaging narcotics officer probable cause believe balloon contained illicit substance moreover requirement doctrine coolidge supra officer must discover incriminating evidence inadvertently without knowing advance location particular evidence intending seize use doctrine pretext bar seizure pp justice powell joined justice blackmun concurring judgment concluded articulation coolidge supra exception warrant clause requirements fourth amendment dispositive issue respondent conceded officer initial intrusion lawful discovery tiedoff balloon inadvertent observed course lawful inspection front seat area automobile probable cause must shown justify seizure existed light evidence balloons common containers carrying illegal narcotics moreover law enforcement officer may rely training experience draw inferences make deductions might well elude untrained person pp justice stevens joined justice brennan justice marshall concurring judgment concluded plain view exception fourth amendment warrant requirement officer warrantless temporary seizure balloon proper balloon contents used evidence state justify opening without warrant question remains open state remand pp chris marshall argued cause petitioner briefs tim curry wilson stephen chaney allan butcher argued cause respondent brief carter solicitor general lee assistant attorney general jensen deputy solicitor general frey joshua schwartz filed brief amicus curiae urging reversal justice rehnquist announced judgment delivered opinion chief justice justice white justice joined respondent clifford james brown convicted district tarrant county possession heroin violation state law texas criminal appeals reversed conviction holding certain evidence suppressed obtained violation fourth amendment constitution rejected state contention plain view doctrine justified police seizure apparent uncertainty concerning scope applicability doctrine granted certiorari reverse judgment criminal appeals summer evening june tom maples officer fort worth police force assisted setting routine driver license checkpoint east allen street city shortly midnight maples stopped automobile driven respondent brown alone standing alongside driver window brown car maples asked driver license roughly time maples shined flashlight car saw brown withdraw right hand right pants pocket caught two middle fingers hand opaque green party balloon knotted inch tip brown let balloon fall seat beside leg reached across passenger seat opened glove compartment previous experience arrests drug offenses maples testified aware narcotics frequently packaged balloons like one brown hand saw balloon maples shifted position order obtain better view interior glove compartment noticed contained several small plastic vials quantities loose white powder open bag party balloons rummaging briefly glove compartment brown told maples driver license possession maples instructed get car stand rear brown complied following rear car maples reached car picked green balloon seemed sort powdery substance within portion balloon maples displayed balloon fellow officer indicated understood situation two officers advised brown arrest also conducted inventory brown car discovering several plastic bags containing green leafy substance large bottle milk sugar items like balloon seized officers suppression hearing conducted district police department chemist testified examined substance balloon seized maples determined heroin also testified narcotics frequently packaged ordinary party balloons criminal appeals discussing fourth amendment issue observed plain view alone never enough justify warrantless seizure evidence quoting coolidge new hampshire opinion stewart joined douglas brennan marshall jj concluded officer maples know incriminatory evidence seized balloon emphasis supplied quoting delao state tex crim app state petition rehearing three judges dissented stating view issue turns whether officer relying years practical experience knowledge commonly accepted probable cause seize balloon plain view plain view doctrine generally invoked conjunction fourth amendment principles relating warrants probable cause search incident arrest rehearse briefly better understood principles fourth amendment law amendment secures persons houses papers effects people unreasonable searches seizures requires existence probable cause warrant shall issue cases hold procedure way warrant preferred although wide range diverse situations recognized flexible exceptions requirement see warden hayden hot pursuit jeffers exigent circumstances ross automobile search chimel california robinson new york belton search person surrounding area incident arrest search border functional equivalent zap consent also held permissible intrusions less severe searches seizures without necessity warrant see terry ohio stop frisk seizure questioning delaware prouse roadblock one frequently mentioned exception warrant requirement coolidge new hampshire supra plain view doctrine relied upon state case conceding green balloon seized officer maples clearly visible criminal appeals held state might avail plain view doctrine said plain view doctrine apply must officer legitimately position view object must immediately apparent police evidence immediately apparent aspect central plain view exception relied upon appellant citation omitted case officer maples know incriminatory evidence seized balloon coolidge plurality observed important keep mind vast majority cases evidence seized police plain view least moment seizure simply normal concomitant search legal illegal question whether property plain view police may seized therefore must turn legality intrusion enables perceive physically seize property question coolidge plurality following approach plain view characterized independent exception warrant requirement least analytical perspective description may somewhat inaccurate recognized payton new york rule objects weapons contraband found public place may seized police without warrant seizure property plain view involves invasion privacy presumptively reasonable assuming probable cause associate property criminal activity different situation presented however property open view situated private premises access otherwise available seizing officer quoting leasing cases indicate plain view provides grounds seizure item officer access object prior justification fourth amendment plain view perhaps better understood therefore independent exception warrant clause simply extension whatever prior justification officer access object may principle grounded recognition police officer observed object plain view owner remaining interests object merely possession ownership see coolidge new hampshire supra white dissenting likewise reflects fact requiring police obtain warrant obtained perception contraband stolen property incriminating evidence generally needless inconvenience might involve danger police public ibid said previously permissibility particular law enforcement practice judged balancing intrusion fourth amendment interests promotion legitimate governmental interests delaware prouse light private governmental interests outlined decisions come reflect rule lawfully engaged activity particular place police officers perceive suspicious object may seize immediately see marron importing lefkowitz harris frazier cupp rule merely reflects application fourth amendment central requirement reasonableness law governing seizures property applying principles conclude officer maples properly seized green balloon brown automobile criminal appeals stated question validity officer initial stop appellant vehicle part license check agree delaware prouse supra likewise beyond dispute maples action shining flashlight illuminate interior brown car trenched upon right secured latter fourth amendment said lee use searchlight comparable use marine glass field glass prohibited constitution numerous courts agreed use artificial means illuminate darkened area simply constitute search thus triggers fourth amendment protection likewise fact maples changed position bent angle see inside brown car app irrelevant fourth amendment analysis general public peer interior brown automobile number angles reason maples precluded observing officer entirely visible private citizen legitimate expectation privacy katz harlan concurring smith maryland shielding portion interior automobile may viewed outside vehicle either inquisitive passersby diligent police officers short conduct enabled maples observe interior brown car open glove compartment search within meaning fourth amendment thus dispute presence first three requirements held necessary coolidge plurality invoke plain view doctrine criminal appeals noted felt state case ran aground requirement incriminating nature items immediately apparent police officer criminal appeals apparently meant officer must possessed near certainty seizable nature items decisions since coolidge indicate use phrase immediately apparent likely unhappy choice words since taken imply unduly high degree certainty incriminatory character evidence necessary application plain view doctrine colorado bannister applied substance doctrine officer seizure evidence automobile officer noticed occupants automobile matched description persons suspected theft auto parts open glove compartment car similarly resembled ones reported stolen held facts supplied officer probable cause therefore seize incriminating items car without warrant plainly view immediately apparent language coolidge establishing requirement police officer know certain items contraband evidence crime indeed colorado bannister supra merely application rule set forth payton new york seizure property plain view involves invasion privacy presumptively reasonable assuming probable cause associate property criminal activity emphasis added think statement rule payton supra requiring probable cause seizure ordinary case consistent fourth amendment reaffirm frequently remarked probable cause flexible standard merely requires facts available officer warrant man reasonable caution belief carroll certain items may contraband stolen property useful evidence crime demand showing belief correct likely true false practical nontechnical probability incriminating evidence involved required brinegar moreover observation cortez regarding particularized suspicion equally applicable requirement process deal hard certainties probabilities long law probabilities articulated practical people formulated certain conclusions human behavior jurors factfinders permitted law enforcement officers finally evidence thus collected must seen weighed terms library analysis scholars understood versed field law enforcement addition statement seizure objects plain view justified basis upon might seized immediately apparent requirement initial intrusion lawful requirements hold satisfied coolidge plurality also stated police must discover incriminating evidence inadvertently say may know advance location certain evidence intend seize relying doctrine pretense whatever may final disposition inadvertence element plain view clearly bar seizure circumstances meeting maples brown give suggestion roadblock pretext whereby evidence narcotics violation might uncovered plain view course check driver licenses although officers doubt expectation cars halted east allen street part medium area narcotics traffic app contain narcotics paraphernalia indication record anything beyond generalized expectation likewise indication maples reason believe particular object brown glove compartment elsewhere automobile inadvertence requirement plain view properly understood bar seizure maples lawfully viewed green balloon interior brown car probable cause believe subject seizure fourth amendment judgment texas criminal appeals accordingly reversed case remanded proceedings ordered joining justice rehnquist plurality opinion continue disagree views four justices coolidge new hampshire seizures valid viewing inadvertent purport endorse view opinions today footnotes brown relies principally howard state supra duncan state supra neither decision supports proposition texas criminal appeals based decision upon state law howard state argued doctrine justified seizure closed translucent medicine jar automobile criminal appeals rejected claim relying coolidge new hampshire supra stating state arguments squared interpretation plain view doctrine also relied thomas state tex crim app characterized ollowing teachings coolidge new hampshire additional opinion state motion rehearing merely elaborated upon application doctrine set forth original opinion similarly duncan criminal appeals rejected state reliance theory citing coolidge statement applicable law well nicholas state supra like decisions area nicholas relied coolidge clear record us brown arrested criminal appeals stated one point opinion question propriety arrest since appellant failed produce driver license statement might read suggest brown arrested upon failure produce license instead point following seizure balloon car transcript suppression hearing however indicates rather clearly brown formally arrested seizure balloon app face indications decline interpret clause criminal appeals opinion evidencing belief arrest occurred prior seizure balloon rather think likely simply reasoning brown arrest whenever may taken place justified failure produce driver license address argument seizure balloon justified new york belton permits warrantless searches passenger compartment automobile incident arrest absence clear factual findings regarding time reason brown arrested lower able consider decision plurality also remarked plain view alone never enough justify warrantless seizure evidence appeared understand phrase impose independent limitation upon scope doctrine articulated coolidge context plurality used phrase however indicates merely rephrasing conclusion discussed order doctrine apply police officer must engaged lawful intrusion must otherwise legitimately occupy position affording plain view thus police may perceive object executing search warrant may come across item acting pursuant exception warrant clause warden hayden terry ohio alternatively police may need justification fourth amendment access item property left public place see payton new york important distinguish plain view used coolidge justify seizure object officer mere observation item left plain view whereas latter generally involves fourth amendment search see infra katz former generally implicate amendment limitations upon seizures personal property information obtained result observation object plain sight may basis probable cause reasonable suspicion illegal activity turn levels suspicion may cases see terry ohio supra ross justify police conduct affording access particular item chesher ocampo pugh cert denied coplen cert denied lara johnson cert denied booker hanahan people waits redd state state chattley state vohnoutka dick state crim app state miller app albo state seizure balloon required warrantless physical intrusion brown automobile proper assuming remaining requirements doctrine satisfied ross need address whether circumstances degree suspicion lower probable cause sufficient basis seizure certain cases see state king iowa santana cert denied bradshaw cert denied north superior cal justice powell justice blackmun joins concurring judgment concur judgment also agree much plurality opinion relating application case exception warrant clause join plurality opinion goes well beyond application exception read opinion appears accord less significance warrant clause fourth amendment justified language purpose amendment dissent rabinowitz justice frankfurter wrote eloquently one wrench unreasonable searches text context historic content fourth amendment amendment outlawed unreasonable searches went define restricted authority even search warrant issued magistrate give framers said clarity gloss history search unreasonable unless warrant authorizes barring exceptions justified absolute necessity case involves application exception first addressed length plurality portion opinion coolidge new hampshire plurality today opinion never expressly adopted majority ante whatever view might coolidge decided see reason late date imply criticism articulation exception accepted generally decade moreover seems unnecessary cast doubt coolidge case plurality formulation dispositive question us respondent brown dispute officer maples initial intrusion lawful brown also concedes discovery balloon inadvertent observed course lawful inspection front seat area automobile probable cause must shown payton dicta suggest see payton new york think clear existed officer maples testified previously made arrest case narcotics carried balloons similar one issue officers told cases even generally known balloon common container carrying illegal narcotics recognized law enforcement officer may rely training experience draw inferences make deductions might well elude untrained person cortez advised innocent item commonly carried uninflated balloons one officer maples seized accordingly concur judgment consistent principles established prior decisions considered automobile exception example one clearly justified nature vehicle see arkansas sanders powell concurring see chesher irizarry tolerton cert denied antill per curiam cert denied duckett williams cert denied truitt pacelli cert denied drew justice stevens justice brennan justice marshall join concurring judgment texas criminal appeals held warrantless seizure respondent balloon justified doctrine incriminating evidence immediately apparent reverses holding even though contents balloon visible officer incriminating evidence immediately apparent probable cause believe balloon contained illicit substance agree contraband need visible order seizure justified therefore concur conclusion texas interpreted fourth amendment strictly required plurality explanation disposition case however incomplete gives inadequate consideration cases holding closed container may opened without warrant even container plain view officer probable cause believe contraband concealed within chadwick arkansas sanders ross final determination whether trial properly denied suppression motion requires complete understanding doctrine well answer factual inquiry remains open state remand although fourth amendment cases sometimes refer indiscriminately searches seizures important differences two relevant doctrine amendment protects two different interests citizen interest retaining possession property interest maintaining personal privacy seizure threatens former search latter matter timing seizure usually preceded search container involved converse often true significantly two protected interests always present extent example seizure locked suitcase necessarily compromise secrecy contents search stopped vehicle necessarily deprive owner possession object may considered plain view seized without compromising interest privacy since seizure object threatens interest possession circumstances diminishing interest may justify exceptions fourth amendment usual requirements thus item abandoned neither fourth amendment interest implicated neither probable cause warrant necessary justify seizure see abel cf lisk officer probable cause believe publicly situated item associated criminal activity interest possession outweighed risk item might disappear put intended use warrant obtained officer may therefore seize without warrant see leasing payton new york plain view exception warrant requirement easy understand apply cases search made intrusion privacy occurs difficult cases however regularly arisen two contexts link seizure prior subsequent search first situation officer executing valid search one item seizes different item sensitive danger inherent situation officers enlarge specific authorization furnished warrant exigency equivalent general warrant rummage seize danger averted strict attention two core requirements plain view seizing item must entail significant additional invasion privacy time seizure officer must probable cause connect item criminal behavior see lefkowitz cf coolidge new hampshire second familiar context situation officer comes upon container plain view wants seize examine contents recent years spoken length latter act ross supra chadwick supra sanders supra emphasizing fourth amendment privacy values implicated whenever container opened case however search container balloon antecedent seizure open challenge regard closely resembles coolidge supra cases however demonstrate constitutionality container search automatically determined constitutionality prior seizure see chadwick sanders separate inquiries necessary taking account separate interests stake movable container plain view seizure implicate privacy interests therefore probable cause believe contains contraband owner possessory interest container must yield society interest making sure contraband vanish time take obtain warrant item may seized temporarily follow however container may opened spot container custody risk evidence destroyed inconvenience officer entailed requiring obtain warrant opening container alone excuse duty go neutral magistrate johnson mcdonald justice powell emphasizes ante warrant clause embodies government historical commitment bear burden inconvenience exigent circumstances must shown constitution entrust individual privacy judgment single police officer case doubt concerning propriety officer warrantless seizure balloon reasons stated justices powell rehnquist agree police officer invaded privacy interest order see balloon saw probable cause believe contained drugs balloon contents used evidence respondent state also justify opening without warrant perceive two potential justifications first entirely possible officer saw car glove compartment coupled observation respondent contents pockets provided probable cause believe contraband located somewhere car merely one balloon issue ross decided texas criminal appeals reviewed case permissible examine contents container car including balloon alternatively balloon one rare containers nature support reasonable expectation privacy contents inferred outward appearance sanders supra whereas suitcase paper bag may contain almost infinite variety items balloon kind might used transport drugs viewing given officer degree certainty equivalent plain view heroin true conclude doctrine supports search well seizure even though contents balloon actually visible officer reasoning leads conclusion fourth amendment require exclusion balloon contents case probable cause search entire vehicle virtual certainty balloon contained controlled substance neither inquiries made texas courts neither made first instance moreover may remand texas criminal appeals find inquiries unnecessary respondent may waived right demand see supra therefore concur judgment defending texas criminal appeals judgment respondent rely upon challenge search balloon nevertheless believe necessary elaborate upon distinction balloon search seizure case order clarify hold today moreover clear whether matter texas law respondent still permitted present argument evidence suppressed obtained search balloon see infra although coolidge always thought container case required confront new hampshire separate attempts justify warrantless seizure container immobilized automobile see subsequent warrantless searches container interior see arguably matter texas law respondent waived right demand justification course issue texas courts conversely fact object visible automatically mean plain view sense invasion privacy required seize case require elaboration fourth amendment demands officer may seize visible item reach without example entering private home destroying valuable container see taylor sometimes greater certainty identity substance within container identity substance actually visible one might actually see white powder without realizing heroin virtually certain balloon contains substance particular context seems evaluating whether person privacy interests infringed virtual certainty meaningful indicator visibility