Date: Tue Aug 24 11:27:45 1999 From: zoomama@SWLINK.NET (Zoo Mama) Subject: Re: Police searches To: LIBERTARIANS@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU Reply-To: LIBERTARIANS@LISTSERV.ARIZONA.EDU (Libertarian Students at the University of Arizona)
At 11:06 AM 8/24/99 -0700, you wrote: >Scott Seltzer wrote: >> >> Isn't an open door legally considered an invitation to enter? I seem to >> remember something about that from a class I took in high school, although I >> may be wrong. > >I think that's only with parties, Scott. :) > >Seriously, though, if the cops ring your doorbell and you answer the >door, they still have to ask to enter (provided they don't have a >warrant).
"Ask" is rather liberally interpreted. If you simply open the door and move out of their way if they step forward, you've "invited" them in. I have made it quite clear to my family that no one EVER talks to police at the door with it open. We are to go outside and close the door after us. The excuse? The dogs don't like srange men. Of course, not asking the nice policeman inside the house is a tip-off that we're dangerous and hiding criminal activities and will probably lead to a break-the-door-down-warrant at 3:00 AM the following week. Oh well, that's life and death in totalitarianism.
Sharon