Plain-Sight Rule Law and Legal Definition
Plain sight rule is a principle of criminal law that permits a police officer to seize without warrant and use as evidence any item seen in plain view from a lawful position or during a legal search when the officer has probable cause to believe that the item is evidence of a crime.
The "plain sight" rule recognizes that no citizen has a reasonable expectation of privacy with respect to unconcealed items within a vehicle in police custody.[State v. Gowans, 500 P.2d 641 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1972)]
