Can a cop breach a posted and locked gate onto private property to ask me about a friend’s whereabouts?
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Can a cop breach a posted and locked gate onto private property to ask me about a friend’s whereabouts?
The cop has a traffic warrant to serve to my friend.
Asked on August 16, 2015 under Criminal Law, Florida
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 8 years ago | Contributor
No, the officer may not. He may certainly call out to you (or call you, use an intercome, ring a doorbell, etc.) to get you to open the gate and/or talk to him, but has no right to trespass--and opening a locked gate is clearly trespassing--for the reason you describe, without a warrant. You have grounds to file a complaint with the police department against him, but no grounds to sue unless he caused some property damage or other loss to you in doing this.
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