What limits the search under the Carroll Doctrine?

The Carroll Doctrine allows law enforcement officers to search a vehicle without a warrant if they have probable cause to believe that it contains evidence of a crime. This doctrine is grounded in the understanding that vehicles are inherently mobile, and obtaining a warrant may not be feasible due to the potential for evidence to be destroyed or removed.

The limitation under this doctrine is indeed focused on the concepts of probable cause and location. Probable cause requires that officers have a reasonable belief that evidence or contraband is present in the vehicle at the time of the search. Additionally, the location aspect pertains to the search being confined to areas within the vehicle where such evidence could reasonably be found. This includes compartments, the trunk, and other spaces within the vehicle, but it does not extend to areas outside the vehicle or to searches that exceed the scope of what is supported by the probable cause established.

Understanding this context clarifies why the answer is accurate—law enforcement's ability to search is limited to places where they have probable cause to believe evidence exists, and the search must occur in areas accessible to the officer within the vehicle itself at the time of the search.