Which of the following is a warrant exception?

• A. Exigency
• B. Stop and Frisk
• C. Administrative search
• D. Consent

Answer: (A)

Exigency is a warrant exception because it allows police to act without a warrant when waiting to obtain one would create a significant risk—like danger to life or safety, imminent destruction of evidence, or the suspect escaping. When time is of the essence, the need to act to prevent harm overrides the normal requirement to secure a warrant, and the courts recognize that the intrusion is justified by the urgency of the situation. For example, if officers arrive at a home where someone is actively calling for help or where a fire or ongoing violence is occurring, they may enter and search without a warrant to protect life and prevent harm, then justify the actions later as responding to exigent circumstances.

Other options relate to warrantless actions in different ways but aren’t the broad, universal warrant exception described by exigency. Stop and frisk is a limited seizure based on reasonable suspicion under Terry v. Ohio, not a general warrant exception applicable to all searches. Administrative searches occur under specific regulatory statutes and contexts and follow particular procedures; they’re not the same broad category as exigent circumstances. Consent is a separate basis to search without a warrant because the person being searched voluntarily agrees, which is a different mechanism from exigent need.