Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Oregon Supreme Court ruled Thursday that police can search a woman's purse if they see it as a threat. OPB's Sam Sanders reports.

Carolyn Morgan sued the state of Oregon after a search of her purse led to a heroin possession conviction.

During a routine traffic stop, a police officer searched her car. He then searched her purse, feeling she might be holding a weapon.

Morgan argued she gave the officer permission to search only her car, not her purse. But, Kate Medema of the Oregon Attorney General's office says police officers have to take the steps they need to deal with potential threats.

Kate Medema: "Everyday law enforcement officers have to make really tough decisions balancing their personal safety with individual constitutional rights. We hope that this decision and this ruling will be helpful to law enforcement officers in making those difficult decisions."   The Court ruling upholds the right of police officers to do what they deem appropriate when facing a potential safety threat.