A U.S. Supreme Court decision handed down Monday gives law enforcement officers the right to forcibly enter a residence if they suspect evidence is being destroyed after they have announced their presence.
Under the narrowly defined Fourth Amendment ruling, officers who smell burning marijuana, knock loudly, and announce themselves can then enter the home.
The court ruled 8-1 with Justice Samuel Alito writing the majority opinion supporting law enforcement, and stating that a search such as this would not violate the Fourth Amendment's ban on unreasonable searches.
Source: New York Times
