For the latest word and a good holding on inventory searches see People v Michael Spencer, No. 1-08-0973, 1st Dist., 4th Div., 3/24/11. The case illustrates the need to obtain a copy of the relevant police department’s rules on inventory searches prior to litigating such a motion, but also makes the important point that, ” …the existence of a police regulation cannot be used as a predicate to determine the lawfulness or reasonableness of an inventory search of a vehicle.” (Note also that much of the record below was developed pro se!) Read JUSTICE GALLAGHER’S opinion by clicking here.