In some states, when you are arrested, the arresting officer searches your person and opens and searches anything else contained on your person. Wallets, purses, backpacks - the works. In other states (Vermont being one of them), a separate search warrant is required to search ANY item that's separated from your person - like your purse or wallet.

What is the purpose of a search incident to arrest, and why would any court require a warrant to search an item once it gets separated? Do these differences make sense to you, or should the full search simply be part of the arrest process? What expectation of privacy, if any,do you maintain in such items even after you are arrested?