What does "curtilage" refer to in search and seizure law?

In search and seizure law, "curtilage" refers to the area immediately surrounding a home that is considered to be an extension of the home itself for Fourth Amendment purposes. This concept is important because it recognizes that individuals have a reasonable expectation of privacy not only within their home but also in the surrounding areas that are intimately linked to the home, such as those used for domestic purposes.

The Fourth Amendment protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures, and the definition of curtilage plays a crucial role in determining whether a warrant is needed for a law enforcement officer to search a particular area. Factors that contribute to the determination of what constitutes curtilage include proximity to the home, whether the area is enclosed, and how the area is used.

In contrast, other options, such as the physical boundary of the property line or the interior of a vehicle during a traffic stop, do not capture this specific legal context regarding privacy and expectations of space surrounding one's residence. Similarly, while a garage can sometimes be considered part of curtilage, the broader concept specifically emphasizes the immediate area around the home.