Probable effectively means that a reasonable person would believe that a crime was in the process of being committed, had been committed, or was going to be committed.
This means they must have specific evidence or facts that point to your involvement in the alleged offense. For example: Drug Possession: If an officer sees a small bag of what appears to be illegal drugs in plain view inside your car, this observation can provide probable cause for an arrest.
Probable effectively means that a reasonable person would believe that a crime was in the process of being committed, had been committed, or was going to be committed.
Some courts and scholars have suggested probable cause could, in some circumstances, allow for a fact to be established as true to a standard of less than 51%, but as of August 2019, the United States Supreme Court has never ruled that the quantification of probable cause is anything less than 51%.
Writing a probable cause affidavit requires clarity and meticulousness. It should include date, time, location of incidents, involved officers, detailed description of the event, references to evidence, and witness statements. The affidavit should also state the degree of offense and relevant penal code.
There are four categories into which evidence may fall in establishing probable cause. These include observational, circumstantial, expertise, and information: Observational evidence is based on what the officer sees, smells, or hears.
One instance where a lack of Probable Cause may arise is in prosecutions for Driving Under the Influence pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 23152(a) VC and California Vehicle Code Section 23152(b) VC. Law enforcement is always on heightened alert for impaired drivers, especially at certain times and locations.