Cell Phone Article: Question #2

In my opinion, I do not believe it is a good idea for police to be able to search somebody's phone without a warrant. It is an invasion of privacy, especially if there is no logical reason for the police to search the phone. For example, if a person is pulled over for speeding and the police officer asks to search the person's phone, there is no need for that because it has no direct relation to why that person was being pulled over. However, I do believe it is okay for police to search a person's cell phone in a circumstance that involves a criminal case. For example, if police pull over a person that is suspected of kidnapping a child or murdering someone, that is a logical reason for the police to search the person's cell phone without a warrant. In a case of a serious crime or emergency I believe it is okay for police to search someone's phone without a warrant, but only in a case of an emergency and nothing more or less.
I believe that in the case regarding David Riley, the police had the right to obtain and search his cell phone due to the fact that they found two loaded guns in his car. That raises suspicion for safety of people, prompting the police to look into it further. I believe the police were right in searching Riley's phone because it led them to the information of a local gang he was involved in and the cell phone also linked him to a shooting. Without the cell phone, the police would not have gained knowledge of this important information and would not be able to build a case against Riley. If the police did not see the guns in Riley's car then there would be no logical reason for the police to search his phone. But because of the two loaded guns, it gave police a reason to search this man's cell phone. I do believe in the right of privacy, especially with cell phones and electronics, but when it involves a serious case of cause for alarm I believe privacy goes out the window and police have the right to search cell phones and electronics. In the case involving David Riley, I believe the police had the right to search his phone and the Supreme Court should not have thrown out the case.