Powers of entry, search and seizure Section 15: Power to stop and search vehicles
Subsections (1) and (2) confer powers to stop and search vehicles on to police and customs officers. The power is engaged where the officer has reasonable grounds to suspect that the vehicle contains evidence of a relevant offence, as defined in section 14(4). The power does not apply where the vehicle is a dwelling (subsection (1)(b)); in such circumstances the provisions of section 17 would apply. A dwelling is not defined but is intended to be given its natural meaning; the exclusion would, for example, apply to a residential caravan. The power applies to vehicles whether or not a driver or other person is in attendance of the vehicle. Where it is impractical for a stopped vehicle to be searched in the place it has been stopped, the police or customs officer may require the vehicle to be moved to another place before conducting the search (subsection (3)). This provision would apply, for example, where the vehicle has been stopped on a busy road and it would be safer to conduct the search in another location.
	Subsection (4) places a duty on any person travelling in the vehicle or the registered keeper to facilitate the exercise of a police or customs officer's powers under this subsection, for example, the driver of the vehicle might be required to open a locked glove box or boot.
	These stop and search powers are exercisable in any place to which the police or customs officer has lawful access, this would enable a vehicle parked in a garage on premises that are the subject of a search warrant under section 15 to be searched (subsection (5)).