True or False: You cannot seize abandoned property without a warrant.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only if it is located on private land
• D. Only if it is not in plain view

Answer: (B)

The assertion that you cannot seize abandoned property without a warrant is false. When property has been abandoned, individuals relinquish their ownership and any reasonable expectation of privacy associated with that property. This means law enforcement can lawfully seize abandoned property without the need for a warrant.

Abandonment implies that the original owner has given up all rights to the items, allowing officers to take possession free from Fourth Amendment scrutiny. As long as the property is truly abandoned and not simply lost or misplaced, there are no legal barriers preventing law enforcement from seizing it.

Furthermore, abandonment can occur on both public and private land, but the key factor is the abandonment itself, not the specific location or whether the property is in plain view. Therefore, the correct answer is that it is false to say a warrant is required to seize abandoned property.