 All right, so let's talk about plain view search and seizure now The reason this question comes up is people see it on TV shows or they watch live PD things like that and they want to know Hey, there was no warrant. I told them no, they couldn't search and now I'm getting arrested So let's say that you get pulled over for example for speeding and the officer walks up to your window Ask you for your license and registration and as you're handing him those things in plain view He can either see some some sort of drug paraphernalia or something that he believes could be drugs at that point The officer could have a basis to ask you to get out of the vehicle and to search your car If an officer can see something that they believe is illegal criminal activity They can search that vehicle at that point and potentially search your person and place you under arrest for those illegal items Now similarly if you have an interaction with a police officer on the street Or if there's a welfare check at someone's home again If an officer is making lawful contact for another reason and in plain view They see drugs or other criminal activity It could be a basis to search your home your car or your person And you could be under arrest for those items that were seen in plain view