{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "cpl", "section": "690.50", "citation": "CPL § 690.50", "heading": "Search warrants; execution thereof", "text": ["§ 690.50  Search warrants; execution thereof.", "1.  In executing a search warrant directing a search of premises or a vehicle, a police officer must, except as provided in subdivision two, give, or make reasonable effort to give, notice of his authority and purpose to an occupant thereof before entry and show him the warrant or a copy thereof upon request.  If he is not thereafter admitted, he may forcibly enter such premises or vehicle and may use against any person resisting his entry or search thereof as much physical force, other than deadly physical force, as is necessary to execute the warrant; and he may use deadly physical force if he reasonably believes such to be necessary to defend himself or a third person from what he reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of deadly physical force.", "2.  In executing a search warrant directing a search of premises or a vehicle, a police officer need not give notice to anyone of his authority and purpose, as prescribed in subdivision one, but may promptly enter the same if:", "(a)  Such premises or vehicle are at the time unoccupied or reasonably believed by the officer to be unoccupied; or", "(b)  The search warrant expressly authorizes entry without notice.", "3.  In executing a search warrant directing or authorizing a search of a person, a police officer must give, or make reasonable effort to give, such person notice of his authority and purpose and show him the warrant or a copy thereof upon request.  If such person, or another, thereafter resists or refuses to permit the search, the officer may use as much physical force, other than deadly physical force, as is necessary to execute the warrant; and he may use deadly physical force if he reasonably believes such to be necessary to defend himself or a third person from what he reasonably believes to be the use or imminent use of deadly physical force.", "4.  Upon seizing property pursuant to a search warrant, a police officer must write and subscribe a receipt itemizing the property taken and containing the name of the court by which the warrant was issued. If property is taken from a person, such receipt must be given to such person.  If property is taken from premises or a vehicle, such receipt must be given to the owner, tenant or other person in possession thereof if he is present; or if he is not, the officer must leave such a receipt in the premises or vehicle from which the property was taken.", "5.  Upon seizing property pursuant to a search warrant, a police officer must without unnecessary delay return to the court the warrant and the property, and must file therewith a written inventory of such property, subscribed and sworn to by such officer.", "6. Upon arresting a person during a search for him or her pursuant to a search warrant as defined in paragraph (b) of subdivision two of section 690.05, a police officer shall comply with the terms of the warrant of arrest, superior court warrant of arrest, or bench warrant for a felony, and shall proceed in the manner directed by this chapter. Upon arresting such person, the police officer shall also, without unnecessary delay, file a written statement with the court which issued the search warrant, subscribed and sworn to by such officer, setting forth that the person has been arrested and duly brought before the appropriate court, return to the court the warrant and the property seized in the course of its execution, and file therewith a written inventory of any such property, subscribed and sworn to by such officer."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CPL/690.50", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "Police executing a search warrant must follow notice, force, receipt, and return rules.\n\n- **(1)** Before entering premises or a vehicle, police ordinarily must announce authority and purpose and show the warrant on request. If refused entry, they may force entry and use necessary nondeadly force; deadly force is allowed only when reasonably necessary to defend against deadly force. ★\n- **(2)** Police may enter promptly without notice if the place or vehicle is unoccupied or reasonably believed unoccupied, or the warrant expressly authorizes it.\n- **(3)** The same notice, warrant-display, and force rules apply to searching a person.\n- **(4)** For seized property, the officer must give or leave a signed, itemized receipt naming the issuing court.\n- **(5)** The officer must return the warrant and property without unnecessary delay with a **signed, sworn inventory**.\n- **(6)** When the warrant searches for a wanted person, police must follow the arrest warrant and chapter procedures, then without unnecessary delay file a sworn arrest statement, return the search warrant and seized property, and file a sworn inventory.", "in_force_on": "2026-05-31", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/cpl/690.50", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}