The California Supreme Court allowed police Monday to search arrestees' cell phones without a warrant, saying defendants lose their privacy rights for any items they're carrying when taken into custody. Read more.

Please stop everything you're doing right now, and figure out how to lock your cell phone so that only you can "open" it and retrieve information. Next, figure out how to do a "remote swipe" of your phone (this means erasing everything on your phone without having it in your hand). You can tell a trusted person how to remotely swipe your phone if you want. If you need to, go to your local store-front phone store for your phone carrier, and ask the people who work there to help you.

Police are entitled to search your pockets, wallets and purses for weapons (guns, knives, brass knuckles, etc.) and for drugs. I have an iPhone 3GS. It can't hold a weapon or store drugs. Apparently, the police think it can, and that's why they want to search my phone. Most judges are over the age of 25 and they may not carry a smart phone. These smart phones hold more than telephone numbers and an address book. They carry emails, text messages, photos, etc. If the police can "search" your cell phone, who's to say they are not helping themselves to your private information, like the prescription number for medications so when you either contact your pharmacy by phone or email, the information is easily there for you. Or how about your minor child's SSN? Maybe you have a cute name for your "significant other" that seems to have been taken over by unsavory types (remember when gay meant happy and nothing else?)?

I'm over 25 and I have no idea how much more my phone could be doing for me. I was talking to a teen last Sunday and he was bubbling over that "Santa" brought him a smart phone with the internet access and all the stuff he could do now. I haven't got a clue compared to him!

Your cell phone is your private diary. No one should be able to look inside it without a warrant. If you're arrested and the police take your cell phone, they can easily carry it to a magistrate, explain to a detached and neutral judge why it's so important for the police to "search" your phone, and then the judge can decide whether a warrant to "search" is appropriate.

I keep hearing how "you" want smaller government. Protect your privacy, people.

Atlanta DUI Lawyers Clark & Towne