Which of the following is NOT a guideline for searching a vehicle?

• A. Remove all occupants before searching
• B. Never search a car unless you have back-up available
• C. Avoid asking for consent routinely as a fishing expedition
• D. Search quickly and randomly

Answer: (D)

Vehicle searches are conducted in a controlled, methodical way to protect safety, respect rights, and preserve evidence. Removing all occupants before searching helps reduce the risk of sudden threats and keeps the search area safer and more controllable. Having back-up available supports scene security and ensures you can handle any unexpected situation that might arise during the search. Consent should be obtained and applied properly, without treating it as a fishing expedition to uncover more than is willingly allowed. The approach that does not fit as a guideline is searching quickly and randomly; such a method is unsafe, likely to miss hidden items, and can undermine the legitimacy of the search in court because it lacks the deliberate, purposeful process that proper searches require.