Posted on 09/24/2014 4:48:42 PM PDT by Rusty0604
The Canadian government has had to warn its citizens not to carry cash to the USA because the USA does not presume innocence but guilt when it comes to money. Over $2.5 billion has been confiscated from Canadians traveling to the USA, funding the police who grab it.
If you are bringing cash to the land of the free, you will find that that saying really means they are FREE to seize all your money under the pretense you are engaged in drugs with no evidence or other charges.
It costs more money in legal fees to try to get it back so it is a boom business for unethical lawyers to such an extent than only one in sixth people ever try to get their money back and the cops just pocket it. That’s right. Money confiscated is usually allowed to be kept by the department who confiscated it.
This is strangely working its way into funding police and pensions.
This is identical to the very issue that resulted in the final collapse of Rome when the armies began to sack cities to pay for their pensions. We are at that level now with respect to seizing whatever they want knowing you will have to spend more in legal fees to assert your rights that do not really exist.
Those trying to flee tyranny elsewhere can not bring money with them for the police get to take it on this end.
This pretend war on terrorism is really a wholesale war against the people. It serves as the justification to seize whatever they desire ever since 9/11 as reported by the Washington Post.
I remember when you needed to carry enough “show” money to prove that you could pay your way — especially your way back.
Bump
Most of my life I’ve had a somewhat smug attitude whenever I observed the over the top in your face corruption by police and officials in places like Africa and Latin America. That ended with the Clinton administration. Nowadays, I just burn with embarrassment.
ping
Cops that do this kind of thing need to trade their badge and uniform in for a peg-leg and a parrot so they can be honest about their intentions.
Isn’t it normal for tourists who visit another country for holiday generally carry thousands in cash. I know my family used to do this when we go overseas
Whadya expect with a Kenyan in that office? The place HAS to be run like a turd world country! That is what he knows and understands.
I am sure most of us burn with anger, hate and discontent too.
Re: “Over $2.5 billion has been confiscated from Canadians traveling to the USA.”
Sorry, I don’t believe it.
$2.5 billion, and we are just now hearing about it?
$2.5 billion, and Canada is just now warning its citizens?
Let’s see a list of names, and the dates, and the amounts seized.
They would need to seize $100,000 from 25,000 people to get that much.
Or, they would need $1,000 from 2.5 million people!
And we are just now hearing about this?
Maybe some of them have convinced themselves that they are just following the law, but they do know that they benefit personally from confiscated property. The victim of this theft can be proven not guilty of any crime and still not get their property back.
American JBTs preying on Canadians.
PING!
I used to a long time ago, but not anymore. I think one can only take 10K in cash when traveling out of country now or you are suspected of crime and it is confiscated; and forget about taking any gold with you.
This started with the drug laws before Obama.
In America today, $10,000 in cash can be confiscated from you on a traffic stop if the officer feels like taking it. This has been going on for twenty years or longer and it’s incumbent on you to prove you came by the money legitimately.
But we have a Bill of Rights!
On its official website, the Canadian government informs its citizens that “there is no limit to the amount of money that you may legally take into or out of the United States.” Nonetheless, it adds, banking in the U.S. can be difficult for non-residents, so Canadians shouldn’t carry large amounts of cash.
That last bit is excellent advice, but for an entirely different reason than the one Ottawa cites.
There’s a shakedown going on in the U.S., and the perps are in uniform.
Across America, law enforcement officers — from federal agents to state troopers right down to sheriffs in one-street backwaters — are operating a vast, co-ordinated scheme to grab as much of the public’s cash as they can; “hand over fist,” to use the words of one police trainer.
Travel advice
So, for any law-abiding Canadian thinking about an American road trip, here’s some non-official advice:
Avoid long chats if you’re pulled over. Answer questions politely and concisely, then persistently ask if you are free to go.
Don’t leave litter on the vehicle floor, especially energy drink cans.
Don’t use air or breath fresheners; they could be interpreted as an attempt to mask the smell of drugs.
Don’t be too talkative. Don’t be too quiet. Try not to wear expensive designer clothes. Don’t have tinted windows.
And for heaven’s sake, don’t consent to a search if you are carrying a big roll of legitimate cash.
As the Canadian government notes, there is no law against carrying it here or any legal limit on how much you can carry. But if you’re on an American roadway with a full wallet, in the eyes
How about you canucks stay home then?
Last time I visited the US (from Australia, not Canada) I was carrying about $5000 is US currency because my Australian bank values my long term custom and offered me a really good conversion rate - much better than I would have got anywhere else.
Customs didn’t confiscate my cash, but they came very close to doing so. They obviously regarded it as highly suspicious.
I spent that $5000 while I was in the US -and about another $20,000 on credit cards. To me, this really was just the type of money I’d expect to spend on my first long holiday in five years. I was surprised it was seen as suspicious. Yes, by some measures $5,000 is a lot of money - but it did seem odd. I doubt it’s really enough for any serious criminal trying to hide what they are doing.
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