COURT TO REVIEW VEHICLE SEARCHES

WASHINGTON, March 23 (UPI) _ In what could become a landmark case, the
Supreme Court has agreed to hear argument next term on whether police
officers may search an entire vehicle when its driver has been stopped for
an alleged traffic or equipment violation.

A decision in the case out of Iowa could help define car searches across
the nation.

In March 1996, Patrick Knowles was pulled over during a traffic stop in
Newton, Iowa.

Though a radio check revealed Knowles' license was valid and there were no
outstanding warrants for his arrest, a police officer cited him for speeding.

The officer then detained Knowles and thoroughly searched him and his
vehicle. When the officer found marijuana and a pipe, he arrested Knowles.

At an evidence hearing, Knowles unsuccessfully challenged the evidence
under the Fourth Amendment's prohibition against unreasonable search and
seizures, though the officer conceded at the hearing he had no probable
cause to search the driver or his car.

Knowles was found guilty of possession of marijuana and keeping the drug in
a vehicle. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail on each charge.

The Iowa Supreme Court, by a vote of 5-4, eventually affirmed the judge's
refusal to suppress the evidence, citing Iowa's law allowing a vehicle
search after a traffic stop.

Knowles then asked the Supreme Court for review, saying the Iowa high court
had ``dispensed with any case-by-case consideration surrounding the search.''

The justices granted review today without comment.

(No. 75-97, Knowles vs. Iowa) _-