Glossary/Searches, Seizure & Property/Plain viewPlain viewA doctrine that may permit seizing evidence or contraband an officer lawfully observes from a place they are lawfully allowed to be. The observation has to be lawful first; the doctrine does not create a right to go looking.Commonly heard as“It was in plain view on the seat”Related termsProbable-cause searchContrabandConsent searchMore in Searches, Seizure & PropertySearch incident to arrestVehicle exception / automobile exceptionInventory searchPat-down / friskK-9 alertCanine sniffImpoundTow inventoryBrowse the glossaryWatch the videos