Seizure without warrant

(a) If any investigator or police officer has information which causes the investigator or police officer to believe that liquor is kept or deposited in any place mentioned in section 281-108, except a dwelling house, or is kept or concealed in any conveyance, container, baggage, or clothing which is in course of transportation along any highway, for sale or distribution contrary to law, and if the investigator or police officer has reason to believe that the delay which would be necessitated by the procurement of a search warrant would result in the loss, destruction, or concealment of the evidence of the violation of law, the investigator or police officer may forthwith, without such warrant, search the suspected place, vehicle, or container; and if the investigator or police officer there finds liquor and other evidence under circumstances warranting the belief that it is intended for sale or distribution contrary to law, the investigator or police officer shall seize and convey the same, including any vehicle in which the same is found, to some place of security, and keep the same until final action is had thereon. The investigator or police officer shall forthwith, after the seizure, make written complaint under oath, setting forth the facts before a judge having competent jurisdiction. (b) Any evidence seized and conveyed may be kept until final action is had thereof. Should the introduction of a copy or picture of the seized evidence be permitted under the Hawaii rules of evidence, the original evidence may be returned to the appropriate party after such evidence is copied or photographed. [L Sp 1933, c 40, §68; RL 1935, §2636; RL 1945, §7288; RL 1955, §159-106; HRS §281-109; am L 1970, c 188, §39; gen ch 1985; am L 1990, c 171, §36]