Search Warrants are subject to Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. 
Without “probable cause,” a search is ordinarily deemed “unreasonable” and therefore improper. As is the case with many legal issues involving criminal charges, there are certain exceptions.
Searches of a home or residence invite additional scrutiny by Courts, given there is a substantial expectation of privacy within “hearth and home.”
If you’ve been in District Court in North Carolina, most likely you’ve heard mention of two relatively recent cases that the Courts have been bantering about.
“Have you heard about Townsend? That’s it, there is no such thing as PC in North Carolina. Smell of booze is enough to arrest.” Shortly thereafter someone brings up, “Yes, but what about Overocker? That’s a published decision too, right?”
North Carolina Court of Appeals – Publication Date August 4, 2015
“Probable cause for an arrest has been defined to be a reasonable ground of suspicion supported by circumstances sufficiently strong in themselves to warrant a cautious man in believing the accused to be guilty…. To establish probable cause the evidence need not amount to proof of guilt, or even to prima facie evidence of guilt, but it must be such as would actuate a reasonable man acting in good faith.” 5 Am.Jur.2d, Arrest § 44 (1962); State v. Harris, 279 N.C. 307, 182 S.E.2d 364 (1971).
Probable Cause Hearings in North Carolina
Modified Transcript of “Probable Cause to Arrest DWI” for Hearing Impaired:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFWU702u-w8
Modified Transcript of “Reasonable Suspicion To Stop” for Hearing Impaired:
. . .By a reasonable and articulable suspicion that the person seized is engaged in criminal activity.
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