Which of the following is NOT an exception to the warrant requirement?

The statement about search without probable cause being not an exception to the warrant requirement is accurate. Under the Fourth Amendment, a warrant is generally required to conduct a search unless an exception applies.

Searches that fall under exceptions to the warrant requirement—such as searches incident to arrest, hot pursuit, and consent searches—allow law enforcement to conduct searches without obtaining a warrant first. For example, a search incident to arrest allows officers to search a person and their immediate surroundings to ensure officer safety and prevent the destruction of evidence at the time of an arrest. Hot pursuit permits officers to enter a property without a warrant when they are actively pursuing a suspect who is fleeing. Consent searches allow law enforcement to conduct a search if a person voluntarily agrees to allow them to do so, bypassing the need for a warrant.

In contrast, a search conducted without probable cause, and without any other applicable exception, fails to meet the legal standards required by the Fourth Amendment and therefore does not apply as an exception. This is why it is recognized as NOT an exception to the warrant requirement, making it the correct answer in the context of this question.