> If you steal your neighbor's car, sue them for wiretapping,
> and the judge rules that you did not commit wiretapping by stealing
> the car, that doesn't mean stealing cars is now legal.
What if you're storing cash from a bank heist in the trunk of your unlocked car, and a policeman, realizing it's unlocked, checks it without a warrant?
I think that's closer to the situation I was trying to describe.
A local policeman is different than a Federal agent.
Basically, in most situations, an officer needs your consent or a warrant to enter your trunk. (there are exceptions) Evidence gets thrown out of court all of the time when the cops overstep.
The difference with the Feds is that lying to an FBI or other agent is a serious crime in itself, and Federal officials get broader latitude to bend the ruled if they are acting in "good faith".
So if you tell the agent that you don't have contraband in the trunk, and you do, you had better hope that you have some valuable information, becuase otherwise you're getting convicted of a serious felony.
Moral: Don't have any association with drugs (or bank robbers) or people associated with drugs, and don't talk to cops.
I think that's closer to the situation I was trying to describe.