What areas can be searched incident to the arrest of a person?

The correct answer focuses on the specific areas that can be legally searched incident to the arrest of a person. When an officer makes an arrest, they are permitted to search the person being arrested, as well as areas within the immediate reach or control of that person. This includes not only the areas that the person can physically touch or reach at the time of the arrest (often referred to as their wingspan) but also the space where they could lunge or reach for potential weapons or evidence (lung space).

This principle is rooted in the need for officer safety and the preservation of evidence. Searching within an individual's wingspan and lung space helps ensure that an arrested individual cannot reach for a weapon or destroy evidence while being taken into custody. The legal justification for this type of search is particularly significant because it relates to the interests of maintaining safety and preventing the loss of evidence while also respecting the Fourth Amendment rights against unreasonable searches and seizures.

In contrast, searching a person's residence without a warrant, a vehicle under certain conditions, or personal belongings such as a phone and wallet generally requires additional legal justification or may be governed by different legal standards pertaining to privacy and search warrants. These limitations highlight the specific boundaries placed on searches to balance law enforcement needs with individual rights