The Fresno City Council on Thursday voted to change city law to allow officers to enter areas of private property considered public, such as front porches or driveways, without a warrant for code enforcement purposes.
Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz previously told The Fresno Bee officers will still seek consent or warrants as required by the Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which protects people against unreasonable searches and seizures. But he added that the Fourth Amendment doesn’t require warrants “to go to someone’s front door.”
Community members who spoke during Thursday’s council meeting said they were concerned the change makes it easier for officers to convince residents to waive their rights against unwarranted searches. City officials called it a “common sense” move that is intended to crack down on “slumlords” who repeatedly violate housing standards and have been able to use the city’s own laws to avoid inspections and penalties…