California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Romo, 198 Cal.App.3d 581, 243 Cal.Rptr. 801 (Cal. App. 1988):
Furthermore, stopping to knock and announce their purpose would not have furthered the purpose behind section 1531. As explained in People v. Peterson (1973) 9 Cal.3d 717, 108 Cal.Rptr. 835, 511 P.2d 1187, "[S]tatutes requiring announcement serve the following purposes and policies: '(1) the protection of the privacy of the individual in his home [citations]; (2) the protection of innocent persons who may also be present on the premises where an arrest is made [citation]; (3) the prevention of situations which are conducive to violent confrontations between the occupant and individuals who enter his home without proper notice [citations]; and (4) the protection of police who might be injured by a startled and fearful householder.' " ( Id. at p. 723, 108 Cal.Rptr. 835, 511 P.2d 1187.) None of these purposes would have been served by requiring the officers to stop at the front door, knock, and again announce their purpose.
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