Posted on 09/07/2014 9:29:08 AM PDT by grumpygresh
The practice has been controversial since its inception at the height of the drug war more than three decades ago, and its abuses have been the subject of journalistic exposés and congressional hearings. But unexplored until now is the role of the federal government and the private police trainers in encouraging officers to target cash on the nation’s highways since 9/11.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
In America they use asset forfeiture to enrich themselves. In third world countries you just bribe them.
Gold has no smell.
What ever happened to due process?
IF.... givernment CAN TAX property you OWN.......
Then you are in fact RENTING IT from the givernment..
Even makes a ...not so wise... person go... Hmmmmmm..
Due process is an outdated concept written into a defunct document written over 200 years ago by a bunch of old white guys. This is the 21st century. We’ve progressed past that, doncha know? /sarc
“Gold has no smell.”
Doesn’t matter. They just get a dog to walk around the car and the LEO makes the call as to whether the dog is acting like it senses drugs. Then you have probable cause, and the treasure hunt begins.
It’s getting to the point where you’ll have to use crypto currency or some other physical store of value that is not easily recognized such as various rare artifacts etc.
Maybe you could melt your gold down and have it re-formed into a common object and paint it.
Asset forfeiture laws allow us to take the ill-gotten gains of drug kingpins and use them to put more cops on the streets and more prosecutors in court.
In the last 5 years alone, the Justice Department shared over half a billion dollars in forfeited assets with State and local law enforcement.
http://bushlibrary.tamu.edu/research/public_papers.php?id=2764&year=1991&month=3
It was run out of the country by Political Correctness along with free speech and equal treatment under the law.
They wander the planet hoping to return home someday but that possibility looks less promising every day.
I could support at least some of these laws if they were modified from what I understand them to be now.OK,a guy is stopped for a broken tail light.The cop smells marijuana.Calls in the drug sniffing dog who alerts on the car,giving the cop the right to search.During the search he finds $25,000 (all $5 bills) under the floor board.I think they should be able to seize that cash for a limited period (30 days...maybe 60) and if criminal charges related to the money aren’t filed during that limited period the money must be returned.If charges *are* filed the money is held until a verdict is rendered or until the charges are dropped or dismissed.
And here you silly proles thought you could keep the fruits of your labor.
No sarcasm, because you own absolutely nothing under a totalitarian regime, like the one currently residing in Washington DC. Challenge that premise under the penalty or ruin, imprisonment, or death.
Be sure to give due credit to Drug War supporters as well. (see post #8)
Ping!
What if it’s $25,000 in $100 bills in a bag on the front seat, there are no illegal drugs and you’re on the way to buy a new car?
So tell me why the people shouldn’t act the same as these criminals!.... it’s obviously every man for himself.
One more egregious wrong by oppressive government which helps bring ever closer the coming Social War. Use of the criminal justice system to raise funds inevitably brings abuses.
I buy and sell used construction equipment now and then. It is always a cash sale. Why should my money be seized because some ignorant cop doesn’t understand that.
‘What if it’s $25,000 in $100 bills in a bag on the front seat, there are no illegal drugs and you’re on the way to buy a new car?”
They will say that they believe it is drug money and take it. Of course you can appeal, but you won’t get it back. It has happened many times.
“The cop smells marijuana.Calls in the drug sniffing dog who alerts on the car,giving the cop the right to search”
The problem with this is that it’s always up to the LEO to determine whether the dog is detecting drugs. For an obvious reaction by the dog, yes. But for an equivocal or non-response, no.
“During the search he finds $25,000 (all $5 bills) under the floor board.I think they should be able to seize that cash for a limited period (30 days...maybe 60) and if criminal charges related to the money aren’t filed during that limited period the money must be returned.”
No. Innocent until proven guilty must be the standard. The focus needs to be on investigating criminal activity, upholding the law including property rights, not seizing money.
Lets face it. The big drug criminals can launder drug money through HBSC, and the take for the government is pennies on the dollar. Will the Federales go after the big cahunas? No, they are in bed with them.
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