University of Baltimore Law Review Volume 16 Article 4 Issue 2 Winter 1987 1987 The nceU rtain Scope of the Plain View Doctrine Howard E. Wallin University of Baltimore School of Law Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.law.ubalt.edu/ublr Part of the Constitutional Law Commons Recommended Citation Wallin, Howard E. (1987) "The ncU ertain Scope of the Plain View Doctrine," University of Baltimore Law Review: Vol. 16: Iss. 2, Article 4. Available at: http://scholarworks.law.ubalt.edu/ublr/vol16/iss2/4 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@University of Baltimore School of Law. It has been accepted for inclusion in University of Baltimore Law Review by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@University of Baltimore School of Law. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. THE UNCERTAIN SCOPE OF THE PLAIN VIEW DOCTRINE Howard E. Wallint t In recent years the Supreme Court has expanded the plain view ex ception to the warrant requirement by relaxing the prior valid intrusion and the inadvertency requirements. This article examines the resulting confusion in the state courts and identifies areas where judicial clarifica tion is needed. I. INTRODUCTION The fourth amendment of the United States Constitution provides that "[t]he right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, pa pers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures ..., shall not be violated." 1 A second clause directs "no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized."2 The United States Supreme Court has interpreted these two provisions to mean that any search and seizure conducted without a war rant is per se unreasonable and that evidence acquired from a warrantless search and seizure is inadmissible at trial.