A police search that turns up supposed evidence implicating you in a crime could anger you if the police acted without a warrant. In certain situations, the police can conduct a warrantless search, such as when evidence is in plain view. However, if police officers violated your privacy to take evidence, you may have a case that the search was not constitutional.
FindLaw explains that under the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, persons have a reasonable expectation of privacy. This applies to your body, clothing and personal possessions. These boundaries of privacy are not infinite, though. It depends on your situation.
Instances when you have privacy
Generally, the interior of your home qualifies as a zone of privacy. The immediate area surrounding your home, such as your front and back yards, also tends to fall under privacy protections. The inside of your car may qualify as well, though an illegal object visible through the windows could give an officer an opening to search your vehicle.
You also enjoy some privacy protections at work, such as in your office. However, federal and state governments regulate many businesses, especially airports, restaurants and bars, so you may have little to no protection depending on the kind of business you work in.
Possible areas with no privacy protection
People usually do not have Fourth Amendment privacy protections if they are in open locations beyond their personal homes. Additionally, since personal attributes such as your voice, hair, handwriting style, and fingerprints might not qualify as private, the police could require fingerprinting or writing samples from you without violating your rights.
It is important to know that you do have privacy rights, especially when situations are not clear. For example, an officer might use surveillance to notice evidence in your car. Without a warrant to engage in the surveillance, a court could throw out the evidence, possibly causing the case against you to collapse.