Which case permits inventory searches of an impounded vehicle, including the area within the vehicle's wing span?

• A. Chimel v California
• B. South Dakota v Opperman
• C. Adams v Williams
• D. United States v Chadwick

Answer: (B)

Inventory searches of an impounded vehicle are permitted when police follow standard procedures to catalog the car’s contents. The key idea is that the search isn’t about gathering criminal evidence; it’s about protecting the owner’s property and the police from claims of theft or damage. As long as the inventory is conducted under established procedures, the interior of the vehicle—including areas like the glove box and other compartments—may be searched to itemize what’s inside and to ensure nothing dangerous or stolen is left behind.

This principle comes from the ruling that a lawful impoundment allows an inventory of the vehicle when it’s taken into custody, even without probable cause or a warrant. It’s distinct from searches related to arrests, which focus on areas the arrestee can reach, or from container searches requiring probable cause.