[MisterKnowItAll]

You're welcome. I'm not saying there's nothing to criticize in the ruling, but it doesn't exactly gut the Fourth Amendment and pave the road for a police state.

[Lazamataz]

You're welcome. I'm not saying there's nothing to criticize in the ruling, but it doesn't exactly gut the Fourth Amendment and pave the road for a police state.

It's a nudge in the wrong direction. Not a leap, but definitely a nudge.

[NJ_gent]

"I'm not saying there's nothing to criticize in the ruling, but it doesn't exactly gut the Fourth Amendment and pave the road for a police state."

What it does pave the way for is - after a few more rulings based on this precedent and a few jumps in science - police driving up and down the streets of neighborhoods scanning each house with sophisticated equipment that can detect all sorts of illegal drugs, weapons, chemicals, and other such things anywhere in the house from the street. Worse, you could even have police listening in on private in-home conversations without a warrant using laser-based technology pioneered by the CIA during the Cold War.

Are we there yet? No, but this is a very dangerous precedent that says if the search isn't inconvenient and doesn't involve a cop laying a hand on your property, it's ok to do it with no warrant and no probable cause.