Posted on 04/10/2015 1:44:09 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez signed a bill to abolish civil asset forfeiture Friday.
She signed just before the noon deadline that would have pocket vetoed the legislation.
“As an attorney and career prosecutor, I understand how important it is that we ensure safeguards are in place to protect our constitutional rights,” Martinez said in a letter announcing her decision. “On balance, the changes made by this legislation improve the transparency and accountability of the forfeiture process and provide further protections to innocent property owners.”
Civil asset forfeiture is a practice where police can seize your property and keep it even if they don’t convict or charge you with a crime. Then, you must go through the difficult, and often unsuccessful process to get your property–whether it’s a vehicle, cash or your home–back from the police.
The new law makes two important changes:
1. Currently, when police seize property they can keep it even if you are innocent. Under the new law, police can still take property from you for a short period, but would need a conviction or a guilty plea in order to keep it.
2. The law changes the incentive structure for police. Under the new law, if police do get a guilty verdict and your property is forfeited, it goes to the state’s general fund rather than the police department’s budget. The difference at least adds a layer of bureaucracy and oversight between police and the funds they seize.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailycaller.com ...
You have to be found guilty before you are forced to pay a penalty. What a concept! /s
From Washington Free Beacon
The passage of the new law was applauded by criminal justice and civil liberties groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the Drug Policy Alliance, and the Institute for Justice, a public interest law firm that is currently suing the city of Philadelphia to shut down its asset forfeiture program.
Does this mean that Skyler can keep Walt’s money?
They have to find it first. Walt capped the neo-Nazi who knew where it was hidden.
If I remember, she’s been an establishment suck-up on the illegal alien issue. Bob
I don’t want an open-borders chump on the ticket like Martinez.
Small businesses who receive cash for services sometimes get caught up in this law by depositing cash into banks each week.
Good. Absolutely no way the police should benefit from stolen property .. even if it is from thugs.
She was hanginout with NJChristi...while he was popular...
hope she didn’t catch anything...youknow
moderateliberalitis...
Re your tagline, exactly how do I tell one of my wives that she has to leave? You are heartless, Man! lol
Exactly.
This just goes to show...
If New Mexico and pass good statutes, ALL states can turn things around. Keep on prayin’ and never give up the fight for all things good.
Great news and great timing, this will get great coverage during this primary, and will get worked into it.
Did not know she was open borders
Yes!
How did any legislature ever think that was right or Constitutional? That's the kind of government corruption the 2nd Amendment was written for.
The disgusting thing is we even need a law preventing ‘civil’ forfeiture.
[ I’m not sure this is an improvement.
Small businesses who receive cash for services sometimes get caught up in this law by depositing cash into banks each week. ]
Those small businesses are GUILTY of “Structuring” it is in the regulations, there is no trial as the money is seized immediately. they should be jailed and the key thrown away, all hail the big government police state!
/s
Good news. Chalk one up for freedom; one less tool in the back for the tyrants.
-I understand how important it is that we ensure safeguards are in place to protect our constitutional rights,”-
THIS is the kind of talk we like to hear. Kudos to you Governor Martinez. It’s your kind of women this country needs.
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