A reasonable belief that a crime has been committed. Example: You pull over a vehicle and while speaking with the driver smell the odor of marijuana in the vehicle.
Added: Or observe a firearm, or what appears to be proceeds of crime inside the vehicle.
ALSO: Be advised that these examples are only a small sample of reasonable causes to suspect criminal activity.
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Probable cause to search WHAT? A vehicle? Yes, but only the passenger compartment or any area where the passengers of the vehicle might have access. To search a building or a residence - no. Only that area which is in plain sight
Search you, your car, your house etc
When it is corroborating or corroborated.
Difficult and expensive to prove lack of probable cause. Probable cause can be anything from suspicious activity in the vehicle to weaving while driving or failure to signal. I am sure you could find a lawyer who would try but I am also sure the judge would eventually find for probable cause in the end.
For the "probable cause" that a criminal event has, or is about to occur, and by serving the warrant (search or arrest) the crime can be solved or prevented. Probable Cause (partial definition): " . . is more than mere suspicion but less than the amount of evidence required for conviction."