Posted on 09/30/2007 4:52:26 PM PDT by driftdiver
Driving 11 miles over the speed limit cost one driver more than a quarter-million dollars this weekend — at least for now.
....
The 35-year-old from British Columbia, who had a valid driver's license, struggled to tell the trooper where he was going and how long he had been in Washington, prompting the trooper to search his car, Merrill said.
The trooper found two suitcases in the trunk — one filled with $276,640 in cash. The driver claimed he won the stacks of dollar bills at 23 casinos in Washington, California and Nevada, but he was unable to produce any receipts, according to Merrill.
The money was confiscated as the State Patrol investigates the incident. Merrill said if it is determined the man obtained the money legally it will be returned to him.
(Excerpt) Read more at seattletimes.nwsource.com ...
The WOD is costing people's liberty.
It shouldn’t be illegal to carry as much cash as you want. End the failed war on some drugs and restore our liberty.
Comrade listen, if he hasn’t done anything wrong he should have nothing to hide, we can’t be too sure nowadays and we should do everything we can to secure our country!!!
“The man is innocent until proven in a court of law respecting his traffic infraction.”
True, they only give out tickets to boost their budgets.
“Specifically it is actionable against the money itself. And the money has no Miranda rights (or any others as far as that goes). In fact when the case comes to court it will be the state (or the Fed) vs. $x. The money can either represent itself, or hire an attorney.”
YOu’re talking like a lawyer. The money was in his possession and therefor his property. If it was $50 they wouldn’t have done anything. This much money can pay for lots of strippers at the Christmas party so it has to be confiscated.
Assuming it was drug money is so yesterday. Was this guy Muslim? Could the money be financing terrorists?
I’d have to know more before I can get outraged about confiscating the money.
see here:
(comments)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1902273/posts
This is a simple case of armed robbery.
ummm - law enforcement agencies - in Calif and some southern states in particular, like LA, have been confiscating people's cars for minor or made up traffic infractions. The incentive? They get to sell and split the money. - LOOONNNNNNGGGGGG before 9/11.
I don't know if the still do, but the AAA used to give travel advisories to NOT travel through certain states.
I want to know more too. So easy to react.
I want to know more too. So easy to react.
276,640 of them. Now thats unusal.
Two years later, I testified as a witness in Atlanta Federal Court, and said I thought it was a possible hijacking to Cuba. (Profiled a Latino—my bad).
When I was asked what training I'd had in drug profiling, I said "None"; whereupon, the judge returned the money.
The doper kept $380,000, and I've kept my letter of thanks.
276,640 one dollar bills?
Doesn't sound like drug money to me, sounds like he robbed a whole lot of piggy banks.
Also, the public roads no longer belong to the public; they're all government roads now, with tolls selectively collected.
That is quite a toll.
I think a Canadian, is allowed $10,000 cash, securities, etc when crossing the border, otherwise in excess of 10k has to be declared...so if he drove over with that amount undeclared...he is in big trouble....and if won it a casino, then he had to have paid the taxes, so there has to be a record somewhere...(maybe)...the whole issue is interesting, as everyone drives 70 and up on I5...??
In practice any currency in one’s possession is presumed to be ill-gotten and is subject to seizure by any law enforcement officer if he observes it in a stop for any reason. You get it back if the officer’s department decides that the Department doesn’t need it. This is a Democracy but not necessarily a free society.
Was the guy’s name Muhammad?
The man was robbed a gunpoint by the cops. Any other spin is BS. Of course he was a damn fool to drive over the speed limit anyway. “Never break more than one law at a time” has always served me well.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.