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%.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to ...
For an arrest, probable cause means that officers must have enough evidence or information to reasonably believe that a person has committed a crime. This could stem from direct observation of the crime, such as witnessing a theft in progress, or from reliable information, like a credible eyewitness account.
Wesby, the United States Supreme Court observed that probable cause requires only a probability or substantial chance of criminal activity, not an actual showing of any criminal behaviors.
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.
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.