Quoted:
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, [b]and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized[/b].
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Interpret it as you will.
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Yes, except that search warrants aren't required for plain view, or open view. VIN checkes often fall under one of those 2.
Several keys are, did the officer have to move anything, the item itself, or something near the item in order to see a VIN. If the answer is YES it is a search, if the answer is NO it isn't.
Where was the object that was being viewed? If it is in an enclosed garage, then you need a warrant to get into the garage. However if you park your car on a public street, the key being PUBLIC, since you have no expectation of privacy, your VIN could be checked, again as long a the officer doesn't have to phsyically move anything in order to do so, or intrude into private areas of the vehicle.
As for the "Flying J" if they are a business, they by nature are opened to the PUBLIC. To demand that officers leave a PUBLIC enterprise, on private property, is unlikely to be affirmed by a Court. Unless the officer(s) did something that would cause tha "Flying J" to ask them to leave, like any other member of the public.
I wonder if they didn't pick a truck stop to do this at, because the vehicles were stopped anyway and it would be LESS disruptive than a mandatory stop at a weigh station.
As far as traffic rules in WI
Public roads, roads in state/muni-parks all driving rules are enforceable.
Private property open to the public, ie shopping mall, apt. parking lot, there are limited rules that can be enforced, DUI, H+R, Reckless Driving, Handicap Parking Violation, driving over a fire hose, to name MOST of them. Basically it is the one that protect life and property.
Private property that is not open to the public, ie your 500 acre farm, private race track(race area), No traffic rules are enforceable. But criminal law is ie Homicide by DUI, Great Bodily Harm By DUI. Reckless driving is a criminal violation seperate from the motor vehicle code violation of reckless driving. This one is not a citation, and can't be used against a person's driving record, or to suspend a DL. Basically you have to do something very reckless, and injure or come unbelievable close to injuring someone.