Appeals Court: No Warrant Needed For Cops To Enter Back Porch

If your house has a back porch, would a police officer need a warrant to enter your porch?

A state appeals court says no…ruling on a case from La Crosse County.

The court has decided not to reverse the conviction of Jann Willard of West Salem. She was convicted of driving with a high blood alcohol level, and she claimed police illegally obtained evidence in the case by going onto her back porch. The appeals judges ruled that because of how Willard’s house is located on the street, many people would have to enter the porch just to knock on her door. That means a police officer would not need a warrant to get to the main door of the house.