The discussion in your link specifically says it does not apply to "searches by persons acting on behalf of a city, state, or federal government.". It links to

The discussion in your link specifically says it does not apply to "searches by persons acting on behalf of a city, state, or federal government.". It links to this discussion of Fourth Amendment rights which seems more applicable to the case here: * http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-rights/when-the-fourth-amendment-applies.html http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-rights/when-the-fourth-... That page contains this quote: >The Supreme Court has explained that what "a person knowingly exposes to the public, even in his own home or office, is not a subject of Fourth Amendment protection ... " But what he seeks to preserve as private, even in an area accessible to the public, may be constitutionally protected (see Katz v. United States, 389 U.S. 347 [1967]).