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Questions from and responses to citizens:
Q: Can police K-9s be used to search newly purchased vehicles for drugs?
From William Travis:
The Air Force had an assistance program in which military members could have a recently purchased vehicle inspected by the Canine Department for drugs. If drugs were located, a simple form was completed and the authorities confiscated the drugs without a legal action against the owner (I believe it had to be within a week of purchase).
I called our Police Department to see if we had a similar service. I was told they would have to have probable cause to use the dogs. With the prevalence of drugs in our society, why can’t Hampton provide its Citizens this service to keep those who want a drug-free life safe?
Respectfully,
William Travis
Mr. Travis,
Thanks for the great question.
I am not aware of the Air Force's program, but I agree that it could possibly be beneficial to our overall crime prevention effort.
The Police Division’s limited K-9 units are currently used full-time, so it would be necessary to determine a way to conduct such searches within their current work schedules.
There are also issues of law which would at least need to be considered (A military facility such as Langley AFB is under Federal and military jurisdiction, and the rules regarding search and seizure are quite different). At this time, I haven’t heard of any similar programs for comparison within any other police departments in the region.
In essence, it's an idea that my staff and I can explore within the constraints of our much more limited K-9 resources and the law.
Chief Chuck Jordan
Hampton Police Division
