VLVL2 (15): Amendment IV

[Otto]

The burden of proof, Elmhurst explained, would be reversed here - to get his
property back, Zoyd would first have to prove his innocence.
"What about 'innocent till proven guilty?"
"That was another planet, think they used to call it America, long time ago,
before the gutting of the Fourth Amendment. You were automatically guilty
the minute they found that marijuana growing on your land."
"Wait - I wasn't growin' nothin'."
"They say you were. Duly sworn officers of the law, wearing uniforms,
packing guns, bound to uphold the Constitution, you think men like that
would lie?"
(360)

Another pynchonian reversal of opposites. The binary opposition of
guilty/not guilty, normally bound to the principle of law that you're
"'innocent till proven guilty" which gives "not guilty" the higher value in
the hierarchy of this opposition, is reversed.

Amendment IV

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and
effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated,
and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or
affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the
persons or things to be seized.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.billofrights.html