Posted on 06/27/2005 8:12:13 AM PDT by Between the Lines
A man gave up $123,850 and the 1999 Ford Windstar van he was driving to the Cleveland County Interstate Criminal Enforcement Team Thursday afternoon.
The enforcement team, made up of regular sheriff's deputies who patrol the county's highways and I-85, pull over speeders and others violating traffic laws. But, in the midst of these regular pullovers, they're trained to spot suspicious items in order to find contraband.
In the case of Thursday's incident, officers pulled over the southbound van on a routine traffic stop on I-85 near mile marker 2 and found a hidden compartment with the money in it, said Cleveland County Sheriff's Capt. David Rankin.
Since the man willingly gave up the money and the van, he was not arrested, Rankin said.
The incident was reported to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which will work with the sheriff's office to investigate, he said.
The large amount of money is considered contraband, just like drugs or other illegal items that might be seized. But, it's not just the large amount that makes it contraband, Rankin said.
"It's where you find it and how it's packaged that signals whether it's legitimate or not," he said.
The amount of money with this stop is not unusual, Rankin said, though it is probably the largest seizure this year for the enforcement team. To date, $1,085,000 has been seized by the team and $3 million in total contraband - including drugs.
Iredell County Sheriff's Office aided the Cleveland County officers in the stop.
If I had that kind of money, I'd hide it, too.......
So what if I make a hidden compartment in my car and put my life savings in there in the form of packaged non uniform serial numbered bills they can just take it away?
Should have to be charges.
Same with the special tanks for carrying hootch hither and yon ~ you really have to be prepared to 'splain why you have those special superheavyduty shock systems and hydraulic lifts in your car's suspension.
For example, "Uh, officer, I'm on my way to a low rider convention".
Government can take your land for any reason and give you whatever they consider 'just' compensation.
Is there a free country left anywhere?
So9
The article stated the man gave up the money and the van.
Evidently. They just robbed the guy. Government bullies looking for lunch money.
Sure, it probably was drug money given that the guy gave it up so readily. But, whether the guy committed a crime or not, we won't ever know since they are only intent on confiscation. By confiscating without charging the man, they effectively did away with due process. What's to stop them from pulling people over and confiscating a few hundred bucks that some might be carrying, especially if the definition of "contraband" is decided by the officer on the scene.
Sounds like this is a case of abandoned property. Often times the mule will just disavow any knowledge of the money and deny any claim to it. Believe it or not, these people often basically say, "Gee, officer. I don't have a clue where that money came from. Please take it away."
No. It is simply stupid to give it up without a fight. Think of it as a voluntary income tax.
Since the man willingly gave up the money and the van, he was not arrested, Rankin said.
The government didn't take the money - the man gave it up. There's a BIG difference.
Now just WHY would any sane person put that kind of maoney in a CAR. In a safe at home, Ok. But, the possibility of the car being stolen. An accident that sets the car aflame. 100,00 in a 1999 VAN. HELLO.
"What's to stop them from pulling people over and confiscating a few hundred bucks that some might be carrying, especially if the definition of "contraband" is decided by the officer on the scene."
Absolutely nothing. You have no right to your own property anymore.
oops meant 100,000.
Don't you given privacy laws have the right to refuse to answer how you came by your money, at least until April 15th?
NC news ping.
"WOW!!!"
"I shudda used Federal Express!"
Sure there is.
He could willingly give up the money, or he could be arrested and have it confiscated.
Then after jail, bail, trial expenses and eventual exoneration, he still wouldn't get the money back, because that doesn't happen under civil forfeiture law.
SO9
So I guess we just lost the part of the Constitution that deals with illegal search and seizure. What's going to happen when I get pulled over on my way to or from a gun show with a trunkload of guns? Do I kiss my gun collection good-bye?
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