Under the Plain Feel Doctrine, which statement is correct?

Under the Plain Feel Doctrine, which statement is correct?

• A. Material can be seized only if immediately obvious during a legal frisk.
• B. May allow seizure for any item observed during any stop.
• C. Must be in the course of a legal frisk.
• D. Requires a search warrant.

Answer: (C)

Plain Feel allows a seizure only when the officer is conducting a lawful frisk and, during that frisk, palpates an object whose incriminating nature is immediately apparent. The essential point is that the seizure must happen within the context of a legal frisk conducted under Terry stop authority. If the frisk isn’t legal, there’s no lawful basis to seize, even if something feels like it could be contraband. And plain feel does not authorize seizing items observed at any other moment or during any stop, nor does it require a search warrant for items discovered in this way. So the key requirement is that the discovery occurs in the course of a legal frisk.

Plain Feel allows a seizure only when the officer is conducting a lawful frisk and, during that frisk, palpates an object whose incriminating nature is immediately apparent. The essential point is that the seizure must happen within the context of a legal frisk conducted under Terry stop authority. If the frisk isn’t legal, there’s no lawful basis to seize, even if something feels like it could be contraband. And plain feel does not authorize seizing items observed at any other moment or during any stop, nor does it require a search warrant for items discovered in this way. So the key requirement is that the discovery occurs in the course of a legal frisk.