Although you do have fewer constitutional rights regarding searches of your vehicle than of your home or person, you still do have some protections against unreasonable searches from law enforcement officers. This protection is guaranteed through the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. But what exactly is#considered a reasonable search#when you have been pulled over?
There are three primary types of vehicle searches:
Search incident to arrest.#This type of search allows officers to search the immediate vicinity of the driver (anywhere the driver can reach) when police have the authority to place the driver under arrest.
Inventory search.#When police arrest a driver and then impound the car, they search the vehicle to create an inventory of all items inside of it. This prevents civil liability for loss or damage of property.
Probable cause search.Police officers are allowed to conduct a motor vehicle search when they have a “reasonable suspicion” the driver has a weapon or some evidence of a crime for which they have made the traffic stop.
http://www.laplatamdlawfirm.com/blog/when-are-maryland-police-allowed-to-search-your-vehicle/