The Power of Police and Rules for Encountering Them – Part 3, by APC
Detention: THE TRAFFIC STOP (continued) What if the officer pulls you over and sees a shotgun on the seat beside you? Assuming your state of residence does not allow the transport of long guns in this manner and what you are doing is illegal, then the officer has the right to search for more loaded guns. Keep in mind that he now can only search for places that might house an object the size of a long gun. Searching for objects the size of a pistol would also be reasonable under the circumstances. What would NOT be reasonable is searching …