What does the plain view doctrine allow law enforcement to do?

The plain view doctrine permits law enforcement officers to seize evidence of a crime without a warrant if that evidence is clearly visible from a location where the officer is authorized to be. This principle is rooted in the idea that if an officer is in a lawful position and observes contraband or evidence of a crime in plain sight, it is reasonable to seize that evidence without a warrant because the individual has no reasonable expectation of privacy regarding it.

This doctrine emphasizes that law enforcement must be present lawfully at the site of the search or seizure, and the evidence must be immediately apparent as related to criminal activity. This ensures a balance between the need for police to act quickly to preserve evidence and respecting individuals' Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures.