Drug Crimes, Substance Abuse Hypothetical - Drugs in a rental car

[jetliner2]

I love to travel, and 3 or 4 times a year I'm on a trip where I rent a car. Something that crossed my mind recently is what if someone in the past had stashed drugs in the car, and they were left. Someone forgot something or they had to leave it behind for some reason.

So, just curious of opinions, what would happen to me then if I were pulled over and something like that were found hidden in the car?

 

[Proserpina]

You'd have to convince the court that these were not, in fact, your drugs.

Given that rental places clean out the cars with a somewhat alarming frequency, I doubt the argument would get you very far.

 

[Betty3]

IF drugs (or some such thing) were found in the car on a pull over, you could face serious consequences. You would need to get a lawyer.

 

[jetliner2]

Given that rental places clean out the cars with a somewhat alarming frequency, I doubt the argument would get you very far.

And that makes it even a bit more scary. I've been in rentals where they missed obvious items. Once I put the sun visor down, and a half eaten bagel fell in my lap. Who in their right mind puts a bagel above the sun visor. Another time it was someone's cell phone charger left behind. I also can't tell you the number of times I've found old rental agreements left in the glovebox.

In reality, I'm not that paranoid about this happening. But it is possible.

 

[Proserpina]

Your bagel story frightens me.