[microgood]

It is pretty bad when you have to take sides with ACLU. I hope this suit destroys the lives of every government official involved in this thievery.

[BipolarBob]

I wish I was on the jury. The govt. won’t let it go to a jury of taxpayers though.

[stephenjohnbanker]

BUMP

[lesser_satan]

I hope this suit destroys the lives of every government official involved in this thievery.

IF the Anti-American Communist Liar's Union is telling the truth, I agree with you, but I find it hard to trust an organization that was founded with the purpose of destroying the country.

[John Jorsett]

What happens if you deny them permission to search?

[dalereed]

The Gov. will lose this one!

In 1982 I took $63k cash with me to pay the balance on an airplane I was buying in Arizona.

It’s only illegal to take over $10k out of or into the country without declaring it, other than that you can carry as much as you want.

[eastforker]

$23, 700 is petty cash to operate a big rig. Just because the guy decides to keep it in cash rather than deposit it in a bank is no reason to confiscate it. Note, they sent the dogs in and found nothing, how in the world could they possibly establish probable cause.

[hosepipe]

The ACLU vs. DEA thieves.. man you give the hard questions..

[poindexters brother]

...to get it back, he'd have to prove it was his and did not come from illegal drug sales.

I daresay that the DEA officials involved in this incident would likely have a hard time proving that whatever money that is currently in their wallet is theirs and didn't come from illegal drug sales

[KoRn]

Since when did it become illegal to carry around large amounts cash? What has become of our once free country....

[Dante3]

Strange that the ACLU would get involved, makes me think the trucker is involved in something contrary to US interests. ACLU did not utter a word in defense of the Duke lacrosse players - though maybe I missed it. Nor did it come to the defense of Terri Schiavo. Many other cases more worthy of attention this this one - and each time no ACLU.

[elfman2]

"The lawsuit said Prieto does not like banks and customarily carries his savings as cash."

Nonsense.

I think it's probable cause to confiscate it, but there should be a very low bar of "proof" and expedited procedure to get it back.

[Brilliant]

Normally, I’d have to say “good for him” suing the government for taking the money for no apparent reason... But since the ACLU is involved, I know the money must be dirty. The ACLU only gets involved when the person whose rights were supposedly violated is a criminal.

[jdub]

I think any law that puts the burden of proof on the accused is unconstitutional.

[Secret Agent Man]

Yeah, but even people as wacked out as the ACLU by the sheer laws of probability will get it right once out of a hundred times.

[gracesdad]

Have to go with the ACLU on this one.

[jeddavis]

This is the price we pay for the “War on Drugs(TM)”. Here you have govt. agents playing the roll of highwaymen.

[ROP_RIP]

Hmmmm... “Anastasio Prieto”

Something tells me the ACLU wouldn’t be taking this case if it was a white guy. In general, they are much more interested in establishing precedents that shield minorities from the rule of law, than safeguarding Constitutional rights for all Americans to enjoy.

[BlazingArizona]

"Mere possession of approximately $23,700 does not establish probable cause for a search or seizure," the lawsuit said.

Typical idealistic letter-of-the-law reading by a liberal. Technically, it's legal to possess over $10,000 in cash if you don;t take it across the border, but courts have ruled that large amounts of cash, even if less than $10K, can be seized if the officer 'suspects' that it derives from criminal activity. No trial is needed to back up such 'suspicion'.

[Sir Gawain]

Drug warriors get orgasmic over police state tactics like this one.

[vetsvette]

I, too, am with the ACLU on this one. The forfeiture laws that the DEA and under law enforcement agencies have used for years are clearly unconstitutional and need to be changed.