No Warrantless Searches of Cell Phones
S.90 would prohibit law enforcement from searching the contents of an individual’s cell phone without a warrant or the express consent of the owner. SCPC has written before that this protection should already be considered afforded citizens under the 4th amendment’s prohibition against unreasonable searches and seizures. The members of the U.S. Supreme Court evidently agree as they recently unanimously ruled warrantless search of cell phones to be unconstitutional. This bill would simply help to provide further clarity concerning the practice of cell phone searches in South Carolina.