MIP, dorm search Avice?

[icmountin]

Hey, received an MIP the other day, due to my roommate smoking marijuanna in my room. The cops came in and said the "had" to search my side too, even though my roommate admitted that it was all him. They claimed they had to search it cause my roommate could have stashed his pot on my side. I said "no" at first, but then they said they were going to have one cop stay with me while the others went to get a warrent (can they do this). So i figured i might as well let them search, I told them upfront that they would find alcohol and i pointed it out to them. They also took my butterfly knife they found in my desk which i thought was legal!! but they said its not. (is this true even though its less than 5 1/2 inches, and the blade is only single sided???) Anyways i was wondering how an MIP ends up affecting me, as far as records/insurance and such. Also what should i say when i go to court. Thanks for your advice

[JD45]

The room sounds like it's common area between the both of you, so it's a good search as far as I can tell.

Yes, when people won't give consent searches, and we have probable cause to search, we'll just lock down your residence and get a judge to sign a search warrant, then we'll force our way in. I like the latter, because we can use a battering ram to knock your door down..:D

In CA the butterfly knife would be a violation of 653K if you were in public. The alcohol is a different story. No need to be in public for that.

What you should say in court?....."Guilty".

[Gooch]

I take it an "MIP" is some type of summons? You wanted advice from a cop so here it is:

Go to court. Plead guity as charged. Apologize to the judge and the court for wasting everyone's time with your irresponsibility and promise to grow up and change your ways. Pay the fine. Go straight to a payphone and apologize to your hard working parents for wasting their money and for you losing sight of your moral values when you went away to college and reassure them that you are back on track. Go to your university library. Study.

[mcsap]

YES, we can seize a room-house-car whatever while we go and get a search warrant. You gambled with breaking the law ( your roomie too) and you lost.

[icmountin]

hah, my parents money?? i wish,...try my money,...so how does this mip affect my record,...and so you say it was right of them to take my knife?

[scott715us]

I don't know about your state, but a butterfly knife or any knife with a blade over 4" long is illegal to carry on your person in TN. There may be different circumstances if it is locked away in your residence, but isn't there a policy on having weapons on campus grounds?

Why do you need a butterfly knife in your room (at school) anyway? From what I've heard in our courts, there is a lot more leniency in searching dorm rooms than that of a room at a regular residence, because the fact that you're on school property.

[Johninaustin]

Illegal weapon, Minor in Possession, common area, School dorm, (Not under your control) Yeah. You're screwed. At the state university here, a drug offense in the dorm means you lose the room.

My suggestion would be to kick out dumbass doper roommate.

[samseed101]

You guys are forgetting one thing. It sound slike it is a college campus. Possibly one with it's own Police. If you are in a dorm on campus, the campus police don't need a warrant to enter or search your room. If the local police are acting on behalf of the campus police or the administration, they also do not need a warrant. You sign that "right" away when you agree to live on campus and abide by their rules.

At least, thats how it worked when I was in NH and in Maine.

[marchaa]

You guys are forgetting one thing. It sound slike it is a college campus. Possibly one with it's own Police. If you are in a dorm on campus, the campus police don't need a warrant to enter or search your room. If the local police are acting on behalf of the campus police or the administration, they also do not need a warrant. You sign that "right" away when you agree to live on campus and abide by their rules.

I totally agree, as a cop I love situations like that. You will get eaten alive by the judge if you fight it. Sounds like they have a good case. As far as getting your knife back. If it is illegal when they took it, it would be illegal for you to have it back.

As unfair as it sounds you are responsible to know the laws where you are at. You borrow a buddies car and the registration is expired.... that is on you. You may not have known it was expired. But it was still your responsibilty to have know. Plead Guilty, be honest and. In our city court honesty goes a LONG way. Dis-honesty goes about 20 miles (the approximate distance to the jail)