Mary S. Vanderwoude Hill and James J. Hill v. Commonwealth

BENTON, Judge.

A jury convicted Mary S. Vanderwoude Hill and her husband, James J. Hill, of a misdemeanor for refusing to submit to a warrantless inspection of their goat cheese manufacturing facilities in violation of Code § 3.1-388(e). The Hills contend that the Fourth Amendment bars warrantless searches of premises operated by “homeowners and occupants of a farm not required by law to obtain a license to sell ... goat cheese made thereon.” We hold that the warrantless search falls within the exception for closely regulated industries and that the building where the Hills make their cheese…