The search of a suspicious container in a vehicle's passenger compartment when the driver has been arrested does not generally require a warrant if there is probable cause, in line with Supreme Court precedents.
A search of a suspicious looking container in a vehicle passenger compartment when the driver has been arrested can happen without a warrant. According to the legal standard known as probable cause, law enforcement officers can conduct searches if there is a reasonable basis to believe a crime has been committed or evidence of a crime will be found. This includes cases where the officer has arrested the driver, as the vehicle is considered in the control of law enforcement at that time, permitting them to search areas within the vehicle like the passenger compartment.
The need for a warrant is typically sidestepped in this scenario due to the imminent nature of the arrest and the belief that the container may hold evidence pertinent to the crime. Furthermore, Supreme Court precedents allow for searches at international borders and similar extended powers in circumstances including traffic stops when officers have reasonable suspicion of illegal activity.