In which situation is a search warrant required?

A search warrant is required in the context of examining the contents of a hotel room because individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy in their hotel accommodations. The Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects against unreasonable searches and seizures, and this protection extends to areas where a person expects privacy, such as their home or hotel room. Law enforcement must typically obtain a search warrant based on probable cause before conducting a search in such private spaces to ensure that individuals' rights are respected.

In contrast, situations like searching a public school locker, stopping a person in a public park, or searching a vehicle on a public road often do not require a search warrant because they occur in areas where individuals have a lower expectation of privacy or under circumstances that permit law enforcement to act without a warrant, such as reasonable suspicion or the need for quick action in public spaces.