City Bag Checks
🟠 Updated over a year ago⚠️ Install Order · 5 steps
Install in this order, then this mod last — most mods fail to load without their framework and dependencies in place.
Preview

🔍 Analysis
- 👍 0.2% endorsement rate
- 🏆 #38 of 179 Immersion mods in this game by downloads
📋 About This Mod
Features
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[]Randomized Bag Inspections: Upon approaching the gates of a major city, guards may perform a bag check on you and your companion for stolen items and narcotics such as: Moon Sugar, Skooma, Sleeping Tree Sap, Balmora Blue and Double Distilled Skooma. Seized items will be taken to the stolen items evidence chest at the local jail.
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]Options for Passing a Check: There are numerous ways to try to avoid a bag check, such as Persuasion, Bribery, or reminding the guard that you're Thane of the Hold.[]Commentary on Questionable Items: Items such as Human Hearts, Human Flesh, Black Soul Gems, and certain books, though not expressly illegal, may prompt a reaction from the guards during a bag check.
[]Seamless Integration: City Bag Checks integrates seamlessly with the existing crime system. If you're caught with stolen items or narcotics, or threaten a guard with physical violence, you will receive a bounty and the bag check will become an arrest. The new lines of dialogue included in this mod have been generated using Tortoise TTS and RVC and should be almost indistinguishable from the original voice acting.
An MCM is included to allow you to adjust how frequently bag checks occur. When the bag check event occurs, a random guard closest to the main external gate is chosen to do the check. If you fast travel directly into the city, a check will not occur.
Manual Installation
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[]Download the mod from the Files section.
[
]Unzip the contents of the zip file to your Skyrim Special Edition Data folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Skyrim Special Edition\Data.[]Confirm you have the following files in your Skyrim Special Edition Data folder:
City Bag Checks.esp
City Bag Checks.bsa
City Bag Checks - Textures.bsa
[]Open %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Skyrim Special Edition\plugins.txt and add City Bag Checks.esp after your master files.
[]Save the file.
- Launch Skyrim Special Edition.
F. A. Q.
Q. What patch level is required?
Q. Do I need Dawnguard, Hearthfire or Dragonborn or additional plugins like SKSE?
A. You'll need SKSE and SkyUI in order to adjust mod settings, but it's not required for the mod to function. The % chance of a bag check can still be controlled via console commands.
Q. Is this ESL flagged?
Q. What version of the Creation Kit was this made with?
A. 1. 6. 438. 0. It's compatible with both Special Edition and Anniversary Edition.
Q. Is this safe to add/remove mid-game?
A. Yes, though you should probably use a save cleaner to remove left-over script files if you remove
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[]Download the mod from the Files section.
City Bag Checks adds immersive guard bag inspections at major city gates, randomly checking for contraband. With 1,363 endorsements and 814,718 downloads, it's a popular immersion mod for players who want more realistic law enforcement. Last updated March 2025, it remains actively maintained.
✨ Key Features
📊 Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
- Huge community trust (1,363 endorsements) — this is a proven immersion add-on
- Massive download count (814k+) shows it's widely used and stable
- Simple concept that fits seamlessly into the game's world
⚠️ Cons
- Random checks might get annoying if you're carrying a lot of loot
- Potential compatibility issues with other mods that alter guard behavior or city entrances
For roleplayers and immersion enthusiasts who want a more believable world where guards actually enforce the law. If you're a trader or hoarder who hates being stopped, this might frustrate you. Skip if you prefer fast-paced gameplay without interruptions.
💡 Beginner Tips
- If you're using a mod manager, just download and activate — no extra setup needed.
- Be careful when entering cities with stolen goods; you might get caught and face consequences.
- Check the mod's page for any compatibility notes with other immersion mods you use.
📊 Mod Details
- Game
- Skyrim Mods
- Author
- Jonx0r
- Version
- 1.0.4
- Downloads
- 814,718
- Endorsements
- 1,363
- Category
- Immersion
- Created
- 2/22/2024
- Updated
- 3/16/2025
🧩 Commonly Used Together
Users add these mods to the same collections — a real compatibility signal, not an AI guess.
🔧 How to Install Skyrim Mods
Download from Nexus.
📖 Full step-by-step install guide for Skyrim →
Visit the official mod page for specific installation instructions for this mod.
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