What must a police officer have to believe that liquor is being unlawfully kept in a vehicle?

To determine that liquor is being unlawfully kept in a vehicle, a police officer needs to have reasonable grounds. This legal standard requires the officer to have sufficient facts or circumstances that would lead a reasonable person to believe that an offense has occurred or is occurring. Reasonable grounds are a lesser standard than probable cause, which usually applies in criminal contexts and often suggests a higher level of certainty about criminal activity.

In the context of policing, reasonable grounds allow an officer to act on their observations and information without needing absolute certainty. They can base their judgment on a variety of factors, such as previous knowledge, observations related to the vehicle or the behavior of individuals associated with it, or reports from the public that indicate potential illegal activity.

While direct evidence and witnesses might strengthen a case, they are not necessary for establishing reasonable grounds. An officer can build reasonable grounds based on circumstantial evidence or a combination of factors that suggest unlawful activity.