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    Criminal Defense Division

    California Search Warrants – 7 Key Things to Know

    How do "Search Warrants" work in California?

    In California, a search warrant is issued by a judge and authorizes law enforcement to search a person, a residence, a vehicle, a place of business, or any other specified area suspected of containing evidence of illegal activity.

    Here are five key things to know:

    1. Once police find the evidence they are seeking, the warrant allows them to seize it.
    2. Search warrants must be based on probable cause and cannnot be overly broad.
    3. Warrantless searches can be legal, such as if you consent or as incident to a lawful arrest.
    4. You can ask the court to disregard any evidence found through illegal searches.
    5. Search warrants are different from bench warrants and arrest warrants.
    Type of Warrant Purpose Issued By Based On
    Search Warrant To search a specific location for specific evidence of a crime. Judge or Magistrate Probable cause to believe evidence is present
    Bench Warrant To arrest someone who failed to appear in court or comply with court orders. Judge Failure to appear in court or follow court orders
    Arrest Warrant To arrest a person suspected of committing a crime. Judge or Magistrate Probable cause to believe someone committed a crime

    In order to help you understand the law, our criminal defense attorneys will explain 7 key things to know about search warrants in California:

    If after reading this article, you have additional questions, we invite you to contact us.  Also visit our related pages on California arrest warrants, California bench warrants, the use of police informants and motions to reveal the identity of confidential informants.

    judge signing a warrant

    A judge issues and signs a search warrant.

    1. Who can authorize a search warrant?

    Although a search warrant is issued on behalf of the state (that is, by the prosecuting agency), the judge actually issues and signs it. 1 2 3 The purpose of having a judge issue the warrant instead of the police or a prosecutor is to ensure that a neutral, detached individual evaluates the circumstances of the criminal investigation.4

    Before the judge can sign off, two requirements must be met: The judge must reasonably believe

    1. that a misdemeanor or felony has been committed, and
    2. that evidence of that criminal case is likely to be found in the place(s) described in the search warrant.5

    If the facts presented in the warrant application are convincing, the judge must sign and issue the search warrant.6

    Also, we should clarify the distinction between search warrants and two other common types of warrants.

    • A California arrest warrant is usually issued when criminal charges have been filed, and it authorizes the police to arrest you on the charges.
    • A California bench warrant is issued by a judge for violating some rule of court, such as failing to appear for your court hearing or failing to pay a fine that was required as a condition of probation.

    2. What are the search warrant requirements for police in California?

    There are certain requirements that law enforcement must meet in order to obtain a search warrant in California. They must show probable cause that the locations to be searched contain evidence, instruments or fruits of criminal activity.

    The following are examples of the types of grounds on which a California search warrant may be issued:

    • if the sought property was allegedly stolen
    • if the sought property was allegedly used as a means to commit a felony
    • if the sought property is evidence of the fact that a felony has occurred or that you have committed a felony
    • if the sought property is in possession of someone who intends to use it to commit a crime or in the possession of another to whom they may have delivered it for the purpose of concealing it or keeping it from being discovered
    • if the sought property reveals child pornography
    • if an arrest warrant has already issued.7

    It should be noted that if the sought property is held by an attorney, doctor, psychotherapist, or member of the clergy, a special procedure will be held before that evidence may be seized. Even then, the attorney, doctor, therapist, or clergyman must be the individual suspected of engaging in the alleged criminal activity.8

    Before a judge issues a search warrant, they must have probable cause to do so.

    Probable cause

    “Probable cause” is a legal phrase. It refers to a “reasonable” belief that criminal activity is taking (or has taken) place.

    So before a judge issues a search warrant, they must have a reasonable belief that the person/property specifically described in the warrant application (otherwise known as an “affidavit“) will be found in the searched location.9

    Before finding that probable cause exists, the judge may question (under oath)

    • the officer,
    • prosecutor, or
    • state investigator10 who applied for the warrant, and
    • any witnesses that the requesting individual relied on to determine that a warrant was necessary.

    These affidavits may be written or oral, and presented in person, via the telephone, by fax, or even e-mail.11 They also must contain the facts that establish the grounds for the application or the probable cause for believing that they exist.

    Affidavits are under penalty of perjury.12

    Search warrants v. other types of warrants

    Search warrant Arrest warrant Bench warrant
    Purpose To search a location to seize evidence of a crime To arrest you for committing a crime To arrest you for defying court orders
    Party requesting the warrant Law enforcement Law enforcement Judge or law enforcement
    Basis for issuance Probable cause that there is evidence of a crime at a specified location Probable cause that you committed a crime Your failure to comply with court orders
    Timeframe of issuance Usually at the beginning of a criminal case Usually at the beginning of a criminal case Anytime during an open case

    3. Are there rules as to the use of informants?

    Police routinely rely on information provided by informants. Informants are individuals who provide information about people, organizations, or activities to the police without the consent of those people or organizations.

    That said, the judge must be informed of some of the facts that led the informant to their conclusion that there is alleged criminal activity.13 A mere opinion that a person or property is involved in a crime is therefore insufficient without evidence to support it.

    Since it is the judge who must determine if there is probable cause to issue the warrant, they must believe that the informant’s information is reliable. This may be established by:

    • the identity of the informer,
    • past experiences with the informant in which they have proven to be reliable, and/or
    • corroboration by the officer’s personal observations or other evidence.14

    The informant’s identity

    The judge may require disclosure of the informant’s name or may require them to give a statement under oath as to the information they provided to the police.15 However, just because the informant’s identity is disclosed to the judge does not mean it will necessarily be disclosed to the defense.

    A judge is allowed to seal any or all of the affidavit to protect the identity of a confidential informant if that testimony helped establish the probable cause that led the judge to issue the warrant.16

    Although the judge will not reveal the informant’s identity simply because you wish to use it to attack the judge’s finding of probable cause, they may ask the prosecutor to disclose it if your motion to traverse and quash the search warrant has merit.17

    attorney working on a document - lawyers can make a motion to quash and traverse a search warrant in California

    A lawyer can challenge the validity of a search warrant in multiple ways.

    4. How can a defense lawyer challenge the validity of a search warrant?

    Although motions to quash and traverse would be more appropriately explained in the final section titled “Motion to Suppress Evidence“, they merit discussion here. They directly relate to informants and the probable cause required to obtain California search warrants.

    A motion to “quash and traverse” challenges the affidavit (and underlying probable cause) that the judge relied on upon issuing the California search warrant:

    • A motion to traverse challenges the truth of the affidavit.
    • A motion to quash challenges the sufficiency of the affidavit (that is, even assuming the facts are true, whether they rise to the level of probable cause).

    Although these motions may be filed separately or together, the terms are often used interchangeably. We will discuss them as one for the sake of simplicity.

    California criminal defense lawyers may assert motions to traverse and quash a search warrant in three types of hearings:

    1. in a Franks hearing (to assert that the author of the affidavit (otherwise known as the “affiant”) provided false information,
    2. in a Luttenberger hearing (to assert that the informant provided false information), or
    3. in a Hobbs hearing (which is based on a sealed affidavit).

    Franks hearings

    If you request a Franks hearing to quash and traverse a warrant because you believe the supporting affidavit contains false information, you must set forth the reasons why you believe that it is inaccurate.18 California criminal defense lawyers may do this by demonstrating that:

    1. the affidavit contained a false statement,
    2. the statement was made knowingly or with reckless disregard for the truth, and
    3. that the statement was necessary (that is, “material”) to establish probable cause.19

    It should be noted that if the affiant intentionally leaves out material information, they will be deemed to have provided materially false information “by omission”.20

    The court must hold an “in camera” hearing if the judge believes that you have effectively challenged the truth of the affidavit.21 An in-camera hearing is a private hearing held in the judge’s chambers.

    During this hearing, the judge may question the affiant or informant to determine whether the affidavit is accurate, false, or misleading.22

    If the criminal defense attorney succeeds in proving that

    1. the affidavit contained false material information, and
    2. the remaining information is insufficient to support a finding of probable cause,

    the judge must quash the California search warrant.

    Once the search warrant is quashed, any evidence that was seized under the warrant will be suppressed.23

    *Suppressed evidence is discussed in the section titled “Motion to Suppress Evidence”.

    Luttenberger hearings

    When the affidavit supplying the probable cause contains information from an undisclosed informant, it is extremely difficult to establish that the affidavit is false – which is the standard to get a Franks hearing.

    If the informant is not a material witness with respect to your guilt or innocence (an eyewitness to the alleged crime, for example), the prosecution is under no duty to disclose their identity.24

    A Luttenberger hearing takes place when you want to attack the truth of the affidavit but do not know the identity of the informant. In this hearing, the California criminal attorney may request information about:

    1. the informant’s reliability,
    2. their motive for providing information (for example, was the informant paid or offered leniency in exchange for their testimony?), and
    3. any statements that the informant made in connection with the case.

    Although the burden of proof is less strict than a Franks hearing, the defense still must cast doubt as to the truthfulness of the informant’s testimony. If you accomplish this, the court will conduct an in camera hearing to determine if the statements are material.25

    If the statements are material, the court will redact (or remove) any information that may disclose the informant’s identity before it provides you with the

    • affidavit or
    • supporting document(s).26

    If, during this hearing, you discover that the informant is a material witness to your guilt or innocence, you would move to disclose their identity at a Hobbs hearing.

    Hobbs hearings

    At a Hobbes hearing, the defense asks the judge to reveal the identity of the confidential informant upon whose information the California search warrant got issued.

    When the entire affidavit has been sealed to protect the informant’s identity, it may be too difficult even to qualify for a Luttenberger hearing. When this is the case, the court must conduct an in-camera hearing upon receipt of your motion to traverse or quash the California search warrant.27

    Unless the prosecutor agrees, the hearing takes place without you or your criminal defense attorney.28 During this closed hearing, the judge must decide

    1. whether to maintain the confidentiality of the informant, and
    2. whether the affidavit has been properly sealed.29

    If the court believes that the affidavit was properly sealed but does not believe that the information contained in it was false or misleading, it will simply deny your motion.30

    If, however, the court believes that you may succeed in your motion, it will first give the prosecution the opportunity to disclose their informant or have the case dismissed if the judge rules in your favor.31

    In our experience, the prosecution will generally dismiss the case before revealing or “burning” the police informant.

    5. How are the police allowed to execute a warrant?

    The contents of a California search warrant must be described with reasonable particularity.32

    Simply put, “reasonable particularity” means that the warrant should be so clear that nothing is left to the officer’s discretion when executing it.33  This applies to both

    1. the place to be searched, and
    2. the person/property to be seized.34

    This means that a search warrant must be executed according to the exact details contained in the warrant35 – warrants that are clear in their descriptions will be upheld and those that are unduly vague will not.

    The following are some examples taken from actual California court cases regarding law enforcement agency searches:36

    Descriptions that were found not to be sufficiently clear —

    • “all of the financial records”
    • “other evidence”
    • “stolen property”
    • “certain personal property used as a means of committing larceny“

    Items that were described with reasonable particularity —

    • “personal property tending to identify the person in control”
    • “bookmaking paraphernalia”
    • “illegal deer meat and/or elk meat, etc.”

    The more specific the language, the more likely the California search warrant will be upheld.

    Time of execution

    A California search warrant must be executed within ten (10) days of its issuance. If it has not been executed within that timeframe, it becomes void.37

    If the warrant expires, it may be reissued as long as the judge still believes there is probable cause to support it.38 It, therefore, follows that if the probable cause that existed at the time of the original issuance is no longer relevant, the judge will not reissue the warrant.

    There are also restrictions on what time of day a warrant may be executed. As a general rule, a search warrant may only be executed between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.  If, however, the judge finds good cause, they may authorize service at any time of the day or night.39

    “Good cause” means that there is a factual basis for believing that a nighttime intrusion would be justified based on exigent circumstances.40 If, for example, you have several outstanding warrants, service will be authorized whenever possible.

    When establishing good cause, the judge must consider both

    • public safety and
    • the safety of the officers serving the warrant.42

    See our article on What happens after a search warrant is executed?

    With respect to seized property…

    The officer must provide a detailed receipt for any property that they seized during the search. The officer must leave the receipt with

    1. the person from whom they took the property,
    2. the person who possessed the property, or
    3. where they found the property if it was taken without anyone being present.42

    Once taken, the officer must keep the property in police custody until they present it to the court.43

    All that said, the police are not permitted to search and seize anyone or anything until they have announced their presence.

    6. What is the knock and announce rule?

    Before an officer may execute a California search warrant at your home (or possibly your business44), the officer must

    • knock on the door,
    • announce themself as a law enforcement officer,
    • inform you that they have a search warrant, and
    • give you enough time to open the door.45

    It should be noted that the third requirement may technically be completed after you open the door but in either event must be before the officer enters the home.46

    There is no steadfast rule as to exactly how these knock-notice (also referred to as the “knock and announce rule“) requirements should be executed.  So in order to determine whether the executing officers have legally fulfilled their duties under California’s knock-notice law, the court will look for substantial compliance.

    “Substantial compliance,” in its simplest terms, means that the policies underlying the knock and announce requirements are achieved under the circumstances.47 These policies include:

    1. protecting a homeowner’s privacy,
    2. protecting innocent people on the premises,
    3. preventing situations that may otherwise encourage a violent confrontation between a homeowner and those who enter their home without notice, and
    4. protecting the police from a startled or fearful homeowner/occupant.48

    The knock-notice rules and the policies behind them are to ensure that if and when the police force entry into your home, it is only because you knowingly refused their entry.

    Forced entry

    When is it okay for law enforcement officers to enter a home without permission?  After their entry has been refused.

    If you (as the owner or occupant) refuse to

    • open the door for the officers, or
    • permit them into your home,

    the police may break in through a door, window, or any other part of the house to execute the California search warrant.49 The same holds true if no one is home.50

    Assuming you are home, there must be some evidence of a refusal before the police may legally force their way in. This is most typically evidenced by either

    • an unreasonable delay in responding to the officers’ request to enter51 (which must be determined based on the facts of the specific case), or
    • an outright refusal where you tell the police that you will not open the door.52

    Some examples of situations where California courts have held that unlawful forced entries took place include:

    • where knock-notice requirements were not fulfilled (for example, although the officer announced their presence, they did not state their purpose)53
    • where the officer simultaneously announced their presence and forced entry without giving the homeowner the opportunity to comply or refuse54
    • where the forceful entry was only 20 seconds after the officers otherwise complied with the knock-notice rules.55
    • where knock and announce rules were not followed when the officer entered the home to secure it while the warrant was being obtained56
    • where the officer announced that they were a police officer (without stating his purpose) and only after they had already forced entry.57

    There are, of course, certain times when officers are permitted to execute a California search warrant by forcing their entry even without complying with the knock-notice requirements.

    Exceptions to California’s knock-notice rule

    The following are some of the most common exceptions to the knock and announce requirement:

    • consent (if you consent to the officer’s entry, the officer does not need to proceed with knock-notice requirements)58
    • public places (knock and announce rules are designed to respect your privacy in your home – there is no similar privacy right in a public place)59
    • exigent circumstances (“exigent circumstances” basically mean that “time is of the essence”).

    When exigent circumstances are present, the knock-notice requirements may be waived. This is most typically the case where police suspect that those inside the home

    • may arm themselves, or
    • destroy the drugs

    if they first knock and announce their presence.

    There is no blanket exception for exigent circumstances, as each case must be independently evaluated.60 The judge will likely excuse a knock-notice violation

    “[I]f the specific facts known to the officer before his entry are sufficient to support his good faith belief that compliance will increase his peril, frustrate the arrest, or permit the destruction of evidence[.]”61

    Absent one of these recognized exceptions, a knock-notice violation may render any subsequent search and seizure unreasonable, and therefore, illegal.62 When a search and/or seizure is illegal, the prosecution will be prevented from using any of the seized evidence against you at trial.63

    7. What is a motion to suppress evidence?

    The most common challenge to a search warrant lies in a California Penal Code 1538.5 PC motion to suppress evidence. This motion may be filed if you wish to

    1. recover seized evidence, or
    2. exclude seized evidence from your trial.

    A California criminal defense attorney may file an “unreasonable search and seizure” Penal Code 1538.5 motion based on any of the following facts:

    • that the California search warrant was insufficient on its face (this issue could also be raised in a motion to quash the warrant)
    • that there was no probable cause to issue the search warrant (raised in either a motion to quash or traverse)
    • that the seized property or other evidence was not specifically described in the search warrant (for example, the officers seized non-deadly weapons when the warrant specifically said deadly weapons)
    • that the execution of the search warrant was illegal.64

    If any part of the search was unlawful, any discovered evidence will typically be excluded under this section.  As John Murray, one of Ventura’s top criminal defense attorneys, puts it,

    “This ‘exclusionary rule’ is one of the most powerful defenses available.”

    If your motion is granted, the prosecution will be prohibited from “using” the seized evidence against you at trial.  A victory on this motion will often lead the prosecutor to dismiss (or at the very least significantly reduce) your charge(s).

    Additional reading

    For more in-depth information on search warrants, refer to these scholarly articles:

    Legal References:

    1. Collins v. Lean, (1885) 68 Cal.284, 288 (“Under article 4 of the amendments to the U.S. constitution … , it is provided that no search-warrant shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the person or things to be seized. To the same effect is section 19 of article 1 of our state constitution.  As we read those instruments we do not find existent therein any prohibition against the issuance of a search warrant of the person of an individual in a proper case. Therefore, subject to the limitations of those constitutions, and subject also to the conditions that body may itself have prescribed, it is within the power of our state legislature to authorize the issuance of such a warrant. And this power it has exercised by the enactment in the Penal Code of sections 1523 to 1542 inclusive.”). See also People v. Rowlands (Cal.App. 2022) 82 Cal. App. 5th 1099; People v. Tousant (Cal.App. 2021) 64 Cal. App. 5th 804.
    2. California Penal Code 1523 — Definition.  (“A search warrant is an order in writing, in the name of the people, signed by a magistrate, directed to a peace officer, commanding him or her to search for a person or persons, a thing or things, or personal property, and, in the case of a thing or things or personal property, bring the same before the magistrate.”)
    3. See same.  (“A search warrant is an order in writing, in the name of the people, signed by a magistrate….”)
    4. People of the State of California v. Escamilla, (1976) 65 Cal.App.3d 558, 562 (“Adverting to the responsibility devolving upon a magistrate in the issuance of a search warrant, it has been said that “… an issuing magistrate must meet two tests. He must be neutral and detached, and he must be capable of determining whether probable cause exists for the requested arrest or search.” ( Shadwick v. City of Tampa (1972) 407 U.S. 345, 350.)  The goal is to require an informed and deliberate review of the circumstances by one who is removed from “‘… the often competitive enterprise of ferreting out crime”‘.”)
    5. California Penal Code 1525 — Issuance; probable cause; supporting affidavits; contents of application.  (“A search warrant cannot be issued but upon probable cause, supported by affidavit, naming or describing the person to be searched or searched for, and particularly describing the property, thing, or things and the place to be searched.”)
    6. California Penal Code 1528 — Issuance; magistrate satisfied as to grounds; formalities; command; duplicate original warrant.  (“(a) If the magistrate is thereupon satisfied of the existence of the grounds of the application, or that there is probable cause to believe their existence, he or she must issue a search warrant, signed by him or her with his or her name of office, to a peace officer in his or her county, commanding him or her forthwith to search the person or place named for the property or things or person or persons specified, and to retain the property or things in his or her custody subject to order of the court as provided by [California Penal Code] Section 1536.”)
    7. California Penal Code 1524 — Grounds for issuance of warrant; Protection of evidence; Gun violence restraining order; Seizure of prohibited items; Procedure

      (a) A search warrant may be issued upon any of the following grounds:
      (1) When the property was stolen or embezzled.
      (2) When the property or things were used as the means of committing a felony.
      (3) When the property or things are in the possession of any person with the intent to use them as a means of committing a public offense, or in the possession of another to whom that person may have delivered them for the purpose of concealing them or preventing them from being discovered.
      (4) When the property or things to be seized consist of an item or constitute evidence that tends to show a felony has been committed, or tends to show that a particular person has committed a felony.
      (5) When the property or things to be seized consist of evidence that tends to show that sexual exploitation of a child, in violation of Section 311.3, or possession of matter depicting sexual conduct of a person under 18 years of age, in violation of Section 311.11, has occurred or is occurring.
      (6) When there is a warrant to arrest a person.
      (7) When a provider of electronic communication service or remote computing service has records or evidence, as specified in Section 1524.3, showing that property was stolen or embezzled constituting a misdemeanor, or that property or things are in the possession of any person with the intent to use them as a means of committing a misdemeanor public offense, or in the possession of another to whom that person may have delivered them for the purpose of concealing them or preventing their discovery.
      (8) When the property or things to be seized include an item or evidence that tends to show a violation of Section 3700.5 of the Labor Code, or tends to show that a particular person has violated Section 3700.5 of the Labor Code.
      (9) When the property or things to be seized include a firearm or other deadly weapon at the scene of, or at the premises occupied or under the control of the person arrested in connection with, a domestic violence incident involving a threat to human life or a physical assault as provided in Section 18250. This section does not affect warrantless seizures otherwise authorized by Section 18250.
      (10) When the property or things to be seized include a firearm or other deadly weapon that is owned by, or in the possession of, or in the custody or control of, a person described in subdivision (a) of Section 8102 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.
      (11) When the property or things to be seized include a firearm that is owned by, or in the possession of, or in the custody or control of, a person who is subject to the prohibitions regarding firearms pursuant to Section 6389 of the Family Code, if a prohibited firearm is possessed, owned, in the custody of, or controlled by a person against whom a protective order has been issued pursuant to Section 6218 of the Family Code, the person has been lawfully served with that order, and the person has failed to relinquish the firearm as required by law.
      (12) When the information to be received from the use of a tracking device constitutes evidence that tends to show that either a felony, a misdemeanor violation of the Fish and Game Code, or a misdemeanor violation of the Public Resources Code has been committed or is being committed, tends to show that a particular person has committed a felony, a misdemeanor violation of the Fish and Game Code, or a misdemeanor violation of the Public Resources Code, or is committing a felony, a misdemeanor violation of the Fish and Game Code, or a misdemeanor violation of the Public Resources Code, or will assist in locating an individual who has committed or is committing a felony, a misdemeanor violation of the Fish and Game Code, or a misdemeanor violation of the Public Resources Code. A tracking device search warrant issued pursuant to this paragraph shall be executed in a manner meeting the requirements specified in subdivision (b) of Section 1534.
      (13) When a sample of the blood of a person constitutes evidence that tends to show a violation of Section 23140 , 23152 , or 23153 of the Vehicle Code and the person from whom the sample is being sought has refused an officer’s request to submit to, or has failed to complete, a blood test as required by Section 23612 of the Vehicle Code, and the sample will be drawn from the person in a reasonable, medically approved manner. This paragraph is not intended to abrogate a court’s mandate to determine the propriety of the issuance of a search warrant on a case-by-case basis.
      (14) Beginning January 1, 2016, the property or things to be seized are firearms or ammunition or both that are owned by, in the possession of, or in the custody or control of a person who is the subject of a gun violence restraining order that has been issued pursuant to Division 3.2 (commencing with Section 18100) of Title 2 of Part 6, if a prohibited firearm or ammunition or both is possessed, owned, in the custody of, or controlled by a person against whom a gun violence restraining order has been issued, the person has been lawfully served with that order, and the person has failed to relinquish the firearm as required by law.
      (15) Beginning January 1, 2018, the property or things to be seized include a firearm that is owned by, or in the possession of, or in the custody or control of, a person who is subject to the prohibitions regarding firearms pursuant to Section 29800 or 29805, and the court has made a finding pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 29810 that the person has failed to relinquish the firearm as required by law.
      (16) When the property or things to be seized are controlled substances or a device, contrivance, instrument, or paraphernalia used for unlawfully using or administering a controlled substance pursuant to the authority described in Section 11472 of the Health and Safety Code.
      (17)
      (A) When all of the following apply:
      (i) A sample of the blood of a person constitutes evidence that tends to show a violation of subdivision (b), (c), (d), (e), or (f) of Section 655 of the Harbors and Navigation Code.
      (ii) The person from whom the sample is being sought has refused an officer’s request to submit to, or has failed to complete, a blood test as required by Section 655.1 of the Harbors and Navigation Code.
      (iii) The sample will be drawn from the person in a reasonable, medically approved manner.
      (B) This paragraph is not intended to abrogate a court’s mandate to determine the propriety of the issuance of a search warrant on a case-by-case basis.
      (18) When the property or things to be seized consists of evidence that tends to show that a violation of paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of subdivision (j) of Section 647 has occurred or is occurring.
      (19)
      (A) When the property or things to be seized are data, from a recording device installed by the manufacturer of a motor vehicle, that constitutes evidence that tends to show the commission of a felony or misdemeanor offense involving a motor vehicle, resulting in death or serious bodily injury to any person. The data accessed by a warrant pursuant to this paragraph shall not exceed the scope of the data that is directly related to the offense for which the warrant is issued.
      (B) For the purposes of this paragraph, “recording device” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 9951 of the Vehicle Code. The scope of the data accessible by a warrant issued pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to the information described in subdivision (b) of Section 9951 of the Vehicle Code.
      (C) For the purposes of this paragraph, “serious bodily injury” has the same meaning as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (f) of Section 243 of the Penal Code.
      (20) When the property or things to be seized consists of evidence that tends to show that a violation of Section 647.9 has occurred or is occurring. Evidence to be seized pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to evidence of a violation of Section 647.9 and shall not include evidence of a violation of a departmental rule or guideline that is not a public offense under California law.
      (b) The property, things, person, or persons described in subdivision (a) may be taken on the warrant from any place, or from any person in whose possession the property or things may be.
      (c) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) or (b), a search warrant shall not be issued for any documentary evidence in the possession or under the control of any person who is a lawyer as defined in Section 950 of the Evidence Code, a physician as defined in Section 990 of the Evidence Code, a psychotherapist as defined in Section 1010 of the Evidence Code, or a member of the clergy as defined in Section 1030 of the Evidence Code, and who is not reasonably suspected of engaging or having engaged in criminal activity related to the documentary evidence for which a warrant is requested unless the following procedure has been complied with:
      (1) At the time of the issuance of the warrant, the court shall appoint a special master in accordance with subdivision (d) to accompany the person who will serve the warrant. Upon service of the warrant, the special master shall inform the party served of the specific items being sought and that the party shall have the opportunity to provide the items requested. If the party, in the judgment of the special master, fails to provide the items requested, the special master shall conduct a search for the items in the areas indicated in the search warrant.
      (2)
      (A) If the party who has been served states that an item or items should not be disclosed, they shall be sealed by the special master and taken to court for a hearing.
      (B) At the hearing, the party searched shall be entitled to raise any issues that may be raised pursuant to Section 1538.5 as well as a claim that the item or items are privileged, as provided by law. The hearing shall be held in the superior court. The court shall provide sufficient time for the parties to obtain counsel and make motions or present evidence. The hearing shall be held within three days of the service of the warrant unless the court makes a finding that the expedited hearing is impracticable. In that case, the matter shall be heard at the earliest possible time.
      (C) If an item or items are taken to court for a hearing, any limitations of time prescribed in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 799) of Title 3 of Part 2 shall be tolled from the time of the seizure until the final conclusion of the hearing, including any associated writ or appellate proceedings.
      (3) The warrant shall, whenever practicable, be served during normal business hours. In addition, the warrant shall be served upon a party who appears to have possession or control of the items sought. If, after reasonable efforts, the party serving the warrant is unable to locate the person, the special master shall seal and return to the court, for determination by the court, any item that appears to be privileged as provided by law.
      (d)
      (1) As used in this section, a “special master” is an attorney who is a member in good standing of the California State Bar and who has been selected from a list of qualified attorneys that is maintained by the State Bar particularly for the purposes of conducting the searches described in this section. These attorneys shall serve without compensation. A special master shall be considered a public employee, and the governmental entity that caused the search warrant to be issued shall be considered the employer of the special master and the applicable public entity, for purposes of Division 3.6 (commencing with Section 810) of Title 1 of the Government Code, relating to claims and actions against public entities and public employees. In selecting the special master, the court shall make every reasonable effort to ensure that the person selected has no relationship with any of the parties involved in the pending matter. Information obtained by the special master shall be confidential and may not be divulged except in direct response to inquiry by the court.
      (2) In any case in which the magistrate determines that, after reasonable efforts have been made to obtain a special master, a special master is not available and would not be available within a reasonable period of time, the magistrate may direct the party seeking the order to conduct the search in the manner described in this section in lieu of the special master.
      (e) Any search conducted pursuant to this section by a special master may be conducted in a manner that permits the party serving the warrant or that party’s designee to accompany the special master as the special master conducts the search. However, that party or that party’s designee may not participate in the search nor shall they examine any of the items being searched by the special master except upon agreement of the party upon whom the warrant has been served.
      (f) As used in this section, “documentary evidence” includes, but is not limited to, writings, documents, blueprints, drawings, photographs, computer printouts, microfilms, x-rays, files, diagrams, ledgers, books, tapes, audio and video recordings, films, and papers of any type or description.
      (g) No warrant shall issue for any item or items described in Section 1070 of the Evidence Code.
      (h) No warrant shall issue for any item or items that pertain to an investigation into a prohibited violation, as defined in Section 629.51.
      (i) Notwithstanding any other law, no claim of attorney work product as described in Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 2018.010) of Title 4 of Part 4 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall be sustained where there is probable cause to believe that the lawyer is engaging or has engaged in criminal activity related to the documentary evidence for which a warrant is requested unless it is established at the hearing with respect to the documentary evidence seized under the warrant that the services of the lawyer were not sought or obtained to enable or aid anyone to commit or plan to commit a crime or a fraud.
      (j) Nothing in this section is intended to limit an attorney’s ability to request an in-camera hearing pursuant to the holding of the Supreme Court of California in People v. Superior Court (Laff) (2001) 25 Cal.4th 703.
      (k) In addition to any other circumstance permitting a magistrate to issue a warrant for a person or property in another county, when the property or things to be seized consist of any item or constitute evidence that tends to show a violation of Section 530.5, the magistrate may issue a warrant to search a person or property located in another county if the person whose identifying information was taken or used resides in the same county as the issuing court.
      (l) This section shall not be construed to create a cause of action against any foreign or California corporation, its officers, employees, agents, or other specified persons for providing location information.

      See, for example, People v. Ng (2022) 13 Cal. 5th 448; People v. Wilson (2021) 11 Cal. 5th 259.

    8. See same — California Penal Code 1524(c).  See also California Penal Code 1525 — Issuance; probable cause; supporting affidavits; contents of application.  (“The application shall specify when applicable, that the place to be searched is in the possession or under the control of an attorney, physician, psychotherapist or clergyman.”)
    9. California Penal Code 1525 — Issuance; probable cause; supporting affidavits; contents of application. (“A search warrant cannot be issued but upon probable cause, supported by affidavit, naming or describing the person to be searched or searched for, and particularly describing the property, thing, or things and the place to be searched.”)
    10. People v. Bell, (1996) 45 Cal.App.4th 1030, 1054  (“Appellants readily agree Penal Code section 1526, subdivision (a), states: “The magistrate, before issuing the warrant, may examine on oath the person seeking the warrant and any witnesses the person may produce,” (italics added) and that no section of the code requires the person seeking a search warrant be a peace officer. Appellants note, however, that Penal Code section 1523 defines a search warrant as “an order in writing, in the name of the people, signed by a magistrate, directed to a peace officer, commanding him to search for personal property.” Appellants further note other sections of the code dealing with the execution of the warrant all mention peace officers or officers and make no reference to unsworn persons. (Pen.Code 1528, subd. (a), 1530, 1535.) Appellants contend these references to peace officers evidence an intent not only that officers must execute warrants, but that only they may seek them. We have found no case suggesting such an intent. While the reasons for requiring a search warrant only be served by a peace officer are obvious, there seems no reason why seeking one should be confined to peace officers instead of unsworn members of law enforcement. Seemingly the person who seeks the warrant or provides their affidavit should be the person with most direct knowledge of the facts supporting probable cause. We see no reason why a deputy district attorney or an unsworn investigator for a police department, for example, cannot seek a search warrant.”)
    11. California Penal Code 1526 — Issuance; examination of complainant and witnesses; taking and subscribing affidavits; transcribed statements or oath made using telephone and facsimile transmission equipment in lieu of written affidavit.
    12. California Penal Code 1527 — Affidavits; contents.  (“The affidavit or affidavits must set forth the facts tending to establish the grounds of the application, or probable cause for believing that they exist.”)
    13. People v. Aguilar, (1966) 240 Cal.App.2d 502, 508  (“In Aguilar v. Texas, supra (1964) 378 U.S. 108, 114 [84 S.Ct. 1509, 1514, 12 L.Ed.2d 723, 729], the United States Supreme Court said: “Although an affidavit may be based on hearsay information and need not reflect the direct personal observations of the affiant, the magistrate must be informed of some of the underlying circumstances from which the informant concluded that the narcotics were where he claimed they were, …” … And in United States v. Ventresca, supra (1965) 380 U.S. 102, 108 [85 S.Ct. 741, 746, 13 L.Ed.2d 684, 689], the court repeated that same admonition, saying: “This is not to say that probable cause can be made out by affidavits which are purely conclusory, stating only the affiant’s or an informer’s belief that probable cause exists without detailing any of the ‘underlying circumstances’ upon which that belief is based. Recital of some of the underlying circumstances in the affidavit is essential if the magistrate is to perform his detached function and not serve merely as a rubber stamp for the police.”FN6”)
    14. See same at 508.  (“‘Although information provided by an anonymous informer is relevant on the issue of reasonable cause, in the absence of some pressing emergency, an arrest may not be based solely on such information, and evidence must be presented to the court that would justify the conclusion that reliance on the information was reasonable. In some cases the identity of, or past experience with, the informer may provide such evidence, and in others it may be supplied by similar information from other sources or by the personal observations of the police.'”)
    15. See same at 507.  (“Although in cases where a search is based on an arrest without a warrant, the officer, if he relies for probable cause on information obtained from an informant, must, on request of defendant, disclose the name of the informant or the testimony will be stricken (Priestly v. Superior Court, supra (1958) 50 Cal.2d 812), the rule is different in cases where the search is made under a warrant. In warrant cases, it is the issuing magistrate who must be convinced of probable cause. If the magistrate thinks it necessary, he may require disclosure of the informant’s name, or may require that the informant be brought before him for the purpose of making a deposition under section 1526 of the [California] Penal Code. But, since it is the magistrate who determines reliability of the informant, the option to require disclosure is with him and his implied finding of reliability is conclusive on that point.”)
    16. People v. Martinez, (2005) 132 Cal.App.4th 233, 240 (“It is settled that “all or any part of a search warrant affidavit may be sealed if necessary to implement the privilege [under [California] Evidence Code section 1041] and protect the identity of a confidential informant.” ( Hobbs, supra, 7 Cal.4th at p. 971, 30 Cal.Rptr.2d 651, 873 P.2d 1246; Evid.Code, 1042, subd. (b).)”). See also Electronic Frontier Foundation, Inc. v. Superior Court (Court of Appeal of California, Fourth Appellate District, Division Two, 2022) 83 Cal. App. 5th 407.
    17. See same.  (“Consequently, courts are not required to disclose “the identity of an informant who has supplied probable cause for the issuance of a search warrant … where such disclosure is sought merely to aid in attacking probable cause.”)
    18. Franks v. Delaware, (1978) 438 U.S. 154, 155 (“In the present case the Supreme Court of Delaware held, as a matter of first impression for it, that a defendant under no circumstances may so challenge the veracity of a sworn statement used by police to procure a search warrant. We reverse, and we hold that, where the defendant makes a substantial preliminary showing that a false statement knowingly and intentionally, or with reckless disregard for the truth, was included by the affiant in the warrant affidavit, and if the allegedly false statement is necessary to the finding of probable cause, the Fourth Amendment requires that a hearing be held at the defendant’s request.”)
    19. People v. Lewis, (2006) 39 Cal.4th 970, 988 (“…”a defendant has a limited right to challenge the veracity of statements contained in an affidavit of probable cause made in support of the issuance of a search warrant…. [T]he lower court must conduct an evidentiary hearing [only if] a defendant makes a substantial showing that (1) the affidavit contains statements that are deliberately false or were made in reckless disregard of the truth; and (2) the affidavit’s remaining contents, after the false statements are excised, are insufficient to support a finding of probable cause…Innocent or negligent misrepresentations will not defeat a warrant.”)
    20. People v. Luttenberger, (1990) 50 Cal.3d 1, 15  (“The Crabb court stated that for purposes of the issues presented, it would treat a claim of material omissions similarly to the Franks-type problem of material misstatements…This treatment is acceptable.”)
    21. Franks v. Delaware, (1978) 438 U.S. 154, 155  (“…where the defendant makes a substantial preliminary showing that a false statement knowingly and intentionally, or with reckless disregard for the truth, was included by the affiant in the warrant affidavit, and if the allegedly false statement is necessary to the finding of probable cause, the Fourth Amendment requires that a hearing be held at the defendant’s request.”)
    22. People v. Brown, (Court of Appeal, 1989) 207 Cal.App.3d 1541, 1548 (“Here, because the court elected to conduct an in camera hearing to determine the truth or falsity of the information given to Meyer, we assume the court believed Brown’s affidavits raised sufficient questions to warrant further inquiry. The court correctly questioned the informants in camera to determine what they had told Meyer. As a result of this inquiry the court was satisfied that the preliminary showing was rebutted and the officer’s affidavit was not materially false. It therefore concluded there was no need for an evidentiary hearing. Through this procedure the court complied with [California] Evidence Code section 1042, subdivision (d), and Franks v. Delaware.”)
    23. See Franks, endnote 17 above at 156.  (“In the event that at that hearing the allegation of perjury or reckless disregard is established by the defendant by a preponderance of the evidence, and, with the affidavit’s false material set to one side, the affidavit’s remaining content is insufficient to establish probable cause, the search warrant must be voided and the fruits of the search excluded to the same extent as if probable cause was lacking on the face of the affidavit.”)
    24. People v. Hobbs, (1994) 7 Cal.4th 948, 959  (“In contrast to the situation where the defendant is seeking to discover whether a confidential informant is a material witness on the issue of guilt or innocence, where the defendant merely seeks to discover the informant’s identity in connection with a challenge to the legality of a search based on information furnished by the informant, a critical distinction is drawn in the case law between searches conducted pursuant to warrant and warrantless searches. It has long been the rule in California that the identity of an informant who has supplied probable cause for the issuance of a search warrant need not be disclosed where such disclosure is sought merely to aid in attacking probable cause.”)
    25. People v. Luttenberger, (1990) 50 Cal.3d 1, 21  (“To justify in camera review and discovery, preliminary to a subfacial challenge to a search warrant, a defendant must offer evidence casting some reasonable doubt on the veracity of material statements made by the affiant.”)
    26. See same at 19.  (“…to allow the court to determine materiality and delete information that might identify the informant, may impose a lesser burden on trial courts than such an in camera evidentiary hearing.”)
    27. See Hobbs, endnote 24 above at 972.  (“In contrast to the situation in which the informant’s privilege is asserted merely to avoid disclosure of the confidential informant’s name, where, as here, all or a major portion of the search warrant affidavit has been sealed in order to preserve the confidentiality of the informant’s identity, a defendant cannot reasonably be expected to make even the “preliminary showing” required for an in camera hearing under Luttenberger. For this reason, where the defendant has made a motion to traverse the warrant under such circumstances, the court should treat the matter as if the defendant has made the requisite preliminary showing required under this court’s holding in Luttenberger.  On a properly noticed motion by the defense seeking to quash or traverse the search warrant, the lower court should conduct an in camera hearing pursuant to the guidelines set forth in section 915, subdivision (b), and this court’s opinion in Luttenberger, supra, 50 Cal.3d at pages 20-24, 265 Cal.Rptr. 690, 784 P.2d 633.”)
    28. See same at 961.  (“…where the defendant demands disclosure of the identity of a confidential informant “on the ground the informant is a material witness on the issue of guilt” (italics added), a hearing must be held, and it must be conducted in camera and outside the presence of the defendant and his counsel if the prosecution so requests.”)
    29. See same.  (“It must first be determined whether sufficient grounds exist for maintaining the confidentiality of the informant’s identity. It should then be determined whether the entirety of the affidavit or any major portion thereof is properly sealed, i.e., whether the extent of the sealing is necessary to avoid revealing the informant’s identity.”)
    30. See same at 974.  (“If the trial court determines that the materials and testimony before it do not support defendant’s charges of material misrepresentation, the court should simply report this conclusion to the defendant and enter an order denying the motion to traverse.”)
    31. See same.  (“If, on the other hand, the court determines there is a reasonable probability that defendant would prevail on the motion to traverse-i.e., a reasonable probability, based on the court’s in camera examination of all the relevant materials, that the affidavit includes a false statement or statements made knowingly and intentionally, or with reckless disregard for the truth, which is material to the finding of probable cause ( Franks, supra, 438 U.S. at pp. 155-156, 98 S.Ct. at pp. 2676-2677)-the district attorney must be afforded the option of consenting to disclosure of the sealed materials, in which case the motion to traverse can then proceed to decision with the benefit of this additional evidence, and a further evidentiary hearing if necessary ( Seibel, supra, 219 Cal.App.3d at p. 1300, 269 Cal.Rptr. 313; People v. Brown (1989) 207 Cal.App.3d 1541, 1548, 256 Cal.Rptr. 11), or, alternatively, suffer the entry of an adverse order on the motion to traverse.”)
    32. Constitution of the United States Amendment IV — Search and Seizure.  (“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”)  Almost identical language is duplicated in California Constitution Article I, section 13 and California Penal Code 1525 (endnote 7 above).
    33. Marron v. U.S., (1927) 275 U.S. 192, 196 (“The requirement that warrants shall particularly describe the things to be seized makes general searches under them impossible and prevents the seizure of one thing under a warrant describing another. As to what is to be taken, nothing is left to the discretion of the officer executing the warrant.”)
    34. People v. Smith, (1994) 21 Cal.App.4th 942, 948 (“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable seizures and searches may not be violated; and a warrant may not issue except on probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, particularly describing the place to be searched and the persons and things to be seized.” (Cal. Const., art. I, 13, italics added; see also Pen. Code, 1525, 1529.)  The italicized portions plainly indicate that the particularity clause is, in realty, two clauses. The first is directed to the place or places to be searched. The second is directed to the persons and/or things to be seized.”)
    35. Thompson v. Superior Court, (1977) 70 Cal.App.3d 101, 112 (“In summary, we hold that in determining the property to be seized pursuant to a warrant, we are confined to the four corners of the warrant.”)
    36. People v. Superior Court (Williams), (1978) 77 Cal.App.3d 69, 77 (Overruled on different grounds)  (“We are required by the Constitution to determine if the affidavit and the warrant describe the property with particularity, i.e., place a meaningful restriction on the objects to be seized. Whether the description in the warrant is sufficiently definite is a question of law on which an appellate court makes an independent judgment. ( Thompson v. Superior Court, supra., 70 Cal.App.3d 101, 108.)  In determining whether a meaningful restriction has been placed on the objects to be seized, the courts have held as follows: “All of the financial records ” is insufficient ( Burrows v. Superior Court (1974) 13 Cal.3d 238, 249; “any and all other business records and paraphernalia” connected with the business being searched is insufficient ( Aday v. Superior Court (1961) 55 Cal.2d 789, 795-796; “certain personal property used as a means of committing … larceny” is insufficient ( People v. Mayen (1922) 188 Cal. 237, 242 [205 P. 435, 24 A.L.R. 1383]), overruled on different grounds, People v. Cahan (1955) 44 Cal.2d 434, 445; personal property “tending to identify the person in control” is sufficient ( People v. Howard (1976) 55 Cal.App.3d 373, 376; stolen merchandise is insufficient when an inventory could have been provided ( Lockridge v. Superior Court (1969) 275 Cal.App.2d 612, 625; “bank statements, checkbooks and other evidences of indebtedness” too broad ( Griffin v. Superior Court (1972) 26 Cal.App.3d 672, 695; “bookmaking paraphernalia” held sufficient ( People v. Barthel (1965) 231 Cal.App.2d 827, 832; “illegal deer meat and/or elk meat, etc.” is sufficient ( Dunn v. Municipal Court (1963) 220 Cal.App.2d 858, 868; “other evidence” is insufficient ( Stern v. Superior Court (1946) 76 Cal.App.2d 772, 784; “stolen property” insufficient ( Thompson v. Superior Court, supra., 70 Cal.App.3d 101, 105); “… nothing is left to the discretion of the officer executing the warrant” ( Marron v. United States (1927) 275 U.S. 192, 196 [72 L.Ed. 231, 237, 48 S.Ct. 74]).”)
    37. California Penal Code 1534 — Time limit for execution and return.  (“(a) A search warrant shall be executed and returned within 10 days after date of issuance. A warrant executed within the 10-day period shall be deemed to have been timely executed and no further showing of timeliness need be made. After the expiration of 10 days, the warrant, unless executed, is void. The documents and records of the court relating to the warrant need not be open to the public until the execution and return of the warrant or the expiration of the 10-day period after issuance. Thereafter, if the warrant has been executed, the documents and records shall be open to the public as a judicial record.  (b) If a duplicate original search warrant has been executed, the peace officer who executed the warrant shall enter the exact time of its execution on its face.  (c) A search warrant may be made returnable before the issuing magistrate or his court.”)
    38. People v. Brocard, (1985) 170 Cal.App.3d 239, 243 (“The case of People v. Sanchez (1972) 24 Cal.App.3d 664 lends partial support to our conclusion a search warrant may be reissued as long as there is no staleness problem. The Sanchez court held, “[a]lthough there is no statutory authority for the revalidation and reissuance of a search warrant, we see no good reason why, within 10 days of the original issuance, an officer should be precluded from presenting supplemental information to the issuing magistrate, nor why the magistrate, based thereon, should not by appropriate endorsement revalidate and reissue the original warrant rather than issue an entirely new warrant. [Citation.]” (Italics added.) ( Id., at p. 682.) Admittedly Sanchez only upholds reissuance within 10 days of the original issuance. However, even the Sanchez rationale could potentially result in execution of a reissued warrant more than 10 days after the original issuance.)  Finally, we do not find it absolutely necessary there be new information to support reissuance of a search warrant. In cases like this one, where the original affidavit contained recent information showing ongoing criminal activity, that affidavit alone may be sufficient to support a probable cause finding at the time of reissuance.”)
    39. California Penal Code 1533 — Direction as to time for search; grounds for search at night; good cause.  (“Upon a showing of good cause, the magistrate may, in his or her discretion, insert a direction in a search warrant that it may be served at any time of the day or night. In the absence of such a direction, the warrant shall be served only between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.”)
    40. People v. Ramirez, (1988) 202 Cal.App.3d 425, 427 (“In the related context of nighttime search warrants, our Supreme Court recently defined the good cause rule as requiring “‘only some factual basis for a prudent conclusion that the greater intrusiveness of a nighttime search is justified by the exigencies of the situation. …”)
    41. See California Penal Code 1533 above.  (“When establishing “good cause” under this section, the magistrate shall consider the safety of the peace officers serving the warrant and the safety of the public as a valid basis for nighttime endorsements.”)
    42. California Penal Code 1535 — Receipt for property taken.  (“When the officer takes property under the warrant, he must give a receipt for the property taken (specifying it in detail) to the person from whom it was taken by him, or in whose possession it was found; or, in the absence of any person, he must leave it in the place where he found the property.”)
    43. California Penal Code 1536 — Disposition of property taken; retention subject to order of court in which offense triable.  (“All property or things taken on a warrant must be retained by the officer in his custody, subject to the order of the court to which he is required to return the proceedings before him, or of any other court in which the offense in respect to which the property or things taken is triable.”)
    44. People v. Pompa, (1989) 212 Cal.App.3d 1308, 1312  (“Livermore [(1973) 30 Cal.App.3d 1073] involved the search of a residence. Here, the entry was to an office which was part of a business establishment, premises entitled to a lesser expectation of privacy under the Fourth Amendment than that protection afforded a home. ( People v. Lee (1986) 186 Cal.App.3d 743, 750, 231 Cal.Rptr. 45; United States v. Agrusa (8th Cir.1976) 541 F.2d 690, 700; United States v. Clayborne (10th Cir.1978) 584 F.2d 346.) Thus to the extent the knock-notice rule applies to business premises, it has less force than when applied to dwellings.”)
    45. People v. Ramsey, (1988) 203 Cal.App.3d 671, 679  (“[California Penal Code] Section 1531 provides: “The officer may break open any outer or inner door or window of a house, or any part of a house, or anything therein, to execute the warrant, if, after notice of his authority and purpose, he is refused admittance.”  Under this section, police officers are required: “(1) to knock or utilize other means reasonably calculated to give adequate notice of their presence to the occupants, (2) to identify themselves as police officers, and (3) to explain the purpose of their demand for admittance.””)
    46. People v. Mays, (1998) 67 Cal.App.4th 969, 972  (“In support of his suppression motion, Mays argued, and the court agreed, the officers had not announced their purpose until after Riley opened the front door in response to their knocks. The People contend the court erred in finding the officers’ announcement of purpose must precede the opening of the door in order to satisfy constitutional and statutory knock-notice requirements. We agree.”)
    47. See same.  (“The essential inquiry is whether under the circumstances the policies underlying the knock-notice requirements were served.”)
    48. People v. Macioce, (1987) 197 Cal.App.3d 262, 271  (“The purposes and policies supporting the ‘knock-notice’ rules are fourfold: (1) the protection of the privacy of the individual in his home; (2) the protection of innocent persons present on the premises; (3) the prevention of situations which are conducive to violent confrontations between the occupant and individuals who enter his home without proper notice; and (4) the protection of police who might be injured by a startled and fearful householder.”)
    49. California Penal Code 1531 — Execution; authority to break in after admittance refused.  (“The officer may break open any outer or inner door or window of a house, or any part of a house, or anything therein, to execute the warrant, if, after notice of his authority and purpose, he is refused admittance.”)
    50. Hart v. Superior Court, (1971) 21 Cal.App.3d 496, 504 (“Prima facie, the statute [California Penal Code 1531] mandates that in executing a search warrant an officer must first determine whether anyone is present within the premises to be searched. If an affirmative determination is made, the officer must request admittance by giving notice of his authority and purpose.  If, however, it is determined that no one is present and if that determination is supported by the evidence, the notice of authority and purpose requirement is not essential to the validity of the entry and subsequent search.”)
    51. People v. Peterson, (1973) 9 Cal.3d 717, 723  (“Officer Kalm testified that he knocked several times, waited approximately one minute during which interval he observed two persons seated only a short distance inside the screen door. They gave no indication that they intended to respond. Such a delay with notice of the officer’s presence, would reasonably constitute a rejection of the officer’s demands.”)  See also Jeter, endnote 38 above at 937.  (“Thus, in both Elder and Gallo the police had first-hand concrete knowledge that someone was in the residence and was awake: in Elder the police had the residents on the phone, and in Gallo they had them in view. With such information it was not unreasonable for the officers in the Elder and Gallo situations to conclude that a failure to respond to their knocking and announcing of purpose was a refusal of permission to enter.”)
    52. People v. Cressey, (1970) 2 Cal.3d 836, 840  (“The officer inquired, “Jesse Cressey?” and defendant responded, “Yes.” Properly explaining his purpose, the officer said, “I have two warrants for your arrest charging you with failure to provide, and a traffic warrant. Open the door. You’re under arrest.” The defendant answered, “I’m not going to open the door. You don’t have any failure to provide warrant for me. I sent my ex-wife one hundred dollars last week.” Although the officer did not at that time possess the warrant, he informed the defendant again that the police had such a warrant and ordered defendant to submit to arrest and open the door or he would force entry.FN4 Defendant declared: “Go ahead because I’m not going to open the door. If you break it down, I’ll sue the City.””)
    53. People v. Cain, (1968) 261 Cal.App.2d 383, 391 (“The court held that the failure of the officers to explain their purpose and demand admittance, as required by [California] Penal Code section 844, was fatal to the legality of the arrest. (Id. at 310, 66 Cal.Rptr. 1, 437 P.2d 489.) The mere announcement to the girl that they were police officers was not sufficient compliance with the statute. ‘That section requires that an officer explain his purpose before demanding admittance, not merely that he identify himself as an officer.’ (Id. at 310, 66 Cal.Rptr. 1, 3, 437 P.2d 489, 491.)  It is unchallenged in the case before us that Cozzalio did not fully comply with [California] Penal Code section 1531. He did not announce his purpose, nor was he refused admittance. (This refusal is required by Penal Code section 1531, but not by Penal Code section 844.) The Supreme Court has clearly established that variance from Penal Code section 844 and 1531 will be tolerated only in the exceptional situation. As shown above, this case is not the exceptional situation.”)
    54. People v. Benjamin, (1969) 71 Cal.2d 296, 297  (“…for even if we assume that the officer’s ‘yell’ was an effort on his part to give ‘notice of his authority and purpose,’ it appears that that ‘yell’ was simultaneous with and a part of the entry and that the occupant of the apartment was given no opportunity to grant or refuse admittance. Finally, the record herein provides no basis for concluding that the officer was excused from compliance with the section under the common law exceptions to the rule of announcement. ‘Our decision in People v. Gastelo, Supra, 67 Cal.2d 586, 63 Cal.Rptr. 10, 432 P.2d 706, clearly forecloses the propriety of noncompliance with section 844 or its counterpart section 1531 when such noncompliance is based solely upon an officer’s general experience relative to the disposability of the king of evidence sought and the propensity of offenders to effect disposal.'”)
    55. Jeter v. Superior Court, (1983) 138 Cal.App.3d 934, 936  (“Testimony at the preliminary hearing revealed that Officer Munoz, accompanied by four other police officers, arrived at 1224 Fruitvale Avenue about 11 a.m. on July 30, 1981, to serve a search warrant. No surveillance of the premises was undertaken. The officers drove up and parked. Then Officer Munoz knocked on the front door and yelled, “police officers, we have a search warrant.” He waited a “few seconds” and knocked and yelled again. After waiting “five or ten seconds”, he turned the handle and pushed open the door. Upon entering the residence he saw petitioner and Mr. Brown in a sleeping loft: petitioner was sitting on the bed unclad and Brown was asleep.”)  The court pointed out that 20 seconds isn’t a steadfast rule but specifically applied to this case.  In cases where the police knew that people were in the house and that criminal activity was taking place, a 20-second delay was permissible.
    56. Machado v. Superior Court, (1975) 45 Cal.App.3d 316, 320 (“Two recent cases have considered the applicability of [California Penal Code] sections 844 and 1531 to situations where a house was secured pending receipt of a search warrant. (People v. Freeny, 37 Cal.App.3d 20, 112 Cal.Rptr. 33; Ferdin v. Superior Court, 36 Cal.App.3d 774, 112 Cal.Rptr. 66.) The clear implication in both cases is that the courts felt that the knock-and-notice requirements had to be complied with when officers were entering to secure a house pending the arrival of a search warrant. Ferdin specifically recognized that the time the danger of violent confrontation exists is when the entry is made to secure the house and not when the warrant later arrives.”)
    57. Parsley v. Superior Court, (1973) 9 Cal.3d 934, 938  (“FN3 Once inside the dwelling, the officer informed defendant Parsley, “We’re police officers.” This statement does not satisfy  [California Penal Code] section 1531 because (1) it was made inside the house, and (2) it did not include a statement of purpose.”)
    58. People v. Byrd, (1974) 38 Cal.App.3d 941, 9  (“The trial court found that the evidence showed that Ms. Moser asked Mr. Benner to come in. [California Penal Code] Sections 844 and 1531 are inapplicable under such circumstances. “Since the officers’ entry here was consented to by persons present inside the house, the section does not apply.”)
    59. People v. Lovett, (1978) 82 Cal.App.3d 527, 531  (“Although the People cite no case to the effect that section 1531 of the [California]Penal Code does not apply where the premises to be searched are a store open to the public, a contrary rule would make little sense. None of the purposes of the statute would be advanced by requiring police officers to state their “authority and purpose” before crossing the threshold of a store into which the general public has been invited to enter.”)
    60. People v. Scott, (1968) 259 Cal.App.2d 268, 279  (“Strict compliance with the requirements of [California Penal Code] section 1531 is excused when the circumstances reasonably require it. (People v. Barthel (1965) 231 Cal.App.2d 827, 832; People v. Villanueva (1963) 220 Cal.App.2d 443, 447.  An officer executing a warrant authorizing a search for narcotics does not, because the contraband is easily disposed of, enjoy a blanket authorization to make an unannounced forcible entry. (People v. Gastelo (1967) 67 Cal.2d 586)  But here the officer had reason to believe that although appellant was outside in the car other parties were within the house. It was not unreasonable for him to believe that appellant sounded the car horn for the purpose of signaling someone inside the house to destroy the contraband and thus frustrate the search which had been authorized by the warrant. Under these circumstances it was proper for the officer to make immediate entry.”)
    61. People v. Murphy, (2005) 37 Cal.4th 490, 497 (“…strict compliance with the knock-notice rule is excused “if the specific facts known to the officer before his entry are sufficient to support his good faith belief that compliance will increase his peril, frustrate the arrest, or permit the destruction of evidence.”)
    62. People v. Pacheco, (1972) 27 Cal.App.3d 70, 77  (“An entry of a house, in violation of the aforementioned section, renders any following search and seizure unreasonable within the purview of the Fourth Amendment.”)
    63. People v. Rodriquez, (1969) 274 Cal.App.2d 770, 773 (“…an unannounced entry by the police into a house, contrary to [California] Penal Code section 1531, is illegal and that evidence adduced therefrom is inadmissible as the product of an unreasonable search.”)
    64. California Penal Code section 1538.5 — Motion to return property or suppress evidence.

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