Bill limiting law enforcement’s ability to access outbuildings quietly passes through ND House

Republican Rep. Luke Simons, a rancher from Dickinson, said during a committee hearing that he was targeted by a “busybody” who called the sheriff multiple times with accusations of animal neglect. Simons said he got fed up with the calls and told the sheriff to get a warrant. “He said, ‘We don’t need a search warrant. This (outbuilding) is clearly over 60 feet from that house,’ ” said Simons, who was surprised to learn that the Fourth Amendment didn’t protect outbuildings on his property. Simon introduced House Bill 1290 to require law enforcement to get permission from a landowner or have a warrant to go onto property and search barns and other outbuildings unless they were responding to an emergency or otherwise had probable cause. The bill passed the North Dakota House 64-29 on Feb. 19...MORE