Let us reverse the state of affairs that permits rampant warrantless searches of automobiles. (Image from National Institute of Standards & Technology).

Cars bring mobility (but also pollution, congestion, environmental damage from highway construction,  and car accidents). However, cars are also ripe for unjustifiable police stops and warrantless searches, including Terry searches. I discuss Terry here, and vehicle searches here. The key Supreme Court case on Terry car frisks is Michigan. v. Long, 463 U.S. 1032 (1983), which I discuss here.  Jon Katz.