According to the United States Supreme Court, can a closed container in a vehicle be searched without a warrant?

The correct answer is based on the legal principle established by the United States Supreme Court regarding searches of containers within vehicles. The Court has ruled that if law enforcement officers have probable cause to believe that a container in a vehicle contains evidence of a crime, they are permitted to search that container without obtaining a warrant. This is grounded in the automobile exception to the warrant requirement, which recognizes the inherent mobility of vehicles and the diminished expectation of privacy one has in a vehicle compared to fixed premises.

Probable cause can arise from various factors, such as the observations of the officers or information they have received suggesting illegal activity. Therefore, when they have a reasonable belief that a container holds contraband or evidence, they can legally search it without a warrant, streamlining law enforcement's ability to act swiftly in situations where waiting for a warrant could lead to the loss of evidence.

In contrast, the other conclusions suggest either an absolute requirement for a warrant or other conditions that would limit the lawful search of a closed container without considering the probable cause standard, which is not consistent with the established legal precedent.