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BREAKING: New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez Abolishes Civil Asset Forfeiture
Daily Caller ^ | 04/10/2015 | Casey Harper

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 ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; US: New Mexico
KEYWORDS: assetforfeiture; newmexico; property; susanamartinez
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61 posted on 04/10/2015 4:44:40 PM PDT by musicman (Until I see the REAL Long Form Vault BC, he's just "PRES__ENT" Obama = Without "ID")
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To: SeekAndFind

We have more quality women on the bench than they have total prospects.


62 posted on 04/10/2015 4:52:38 PM PDT by jimfree (In November 2016 my 14 y/o granddaughter will have more quality exec experience than Barack Obama)
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To: SeekAndFind
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.

Holy crap! That's a great improvement!....don'tcha think?

FMCDH(BITS)

63 posted on 04/10/2015 5:17:52 PM PDT by nothingnew (Hemmer and MacCullum are the worst on FNC)
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To: GeronL

I agree, it is thief to take an innocent man’s property. The only caveat thou about taking a guilty man’s property is that it should be counted as part of the fine for the crime, and/or labeled as part of the assets to be sold to help pay restitution to the victim.

The State should be last on the list of claimants just before that of the convicted criminal.


64 posted on 04/10/2015 7:33:34 PM PDT by Monorprise
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To: Monorprise

I totally agree.


65 posted on 04/10/2015 7:34:06 PM PDT by GeronL (CLEARLY CRUZ 2016)
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To: SeekAndFind

Martinez for VP.....


66 posted on 04/10/2015 8:56:30 PM PDT by Intolerant in NJ
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To: SeekAndFind

A great idea.
You begin to wonder if really to only reason Police exist is to collect fees, write tickets and arrest people who don’t pay the fees and tickets.

We are not quite there yet but each day we get closer.


67 posted on 04/10/2015 9:21:00 PM PDT by Zathras
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To: SoFloFreeper

New Mexico already has that — Art 2, Sec 11 of the State Constitution, IIRC.


68 posted on 04/10/2015 10:48:11 PM PDT by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
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To: Army Air Corps

Thanks for the ping.


69 posted on 04/10/2015 10:50:56 PM PDT by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
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To: rednesss
So now, instead of just having your property stolen, they will work triple time to coerce you into a plea deal by piling on murder charges to jaywalking, or do everything in their power to get you to confess, bring out the bright lights and rubber hoses. I’m not sure this is an improvement.

I guess some folks will never be satisfied when something good happens - always wanting more and always refusing to acknowledge the good. Waaaaaah!

70 posted on 04/11/2015 4:21:34 AM PDT by trebb (Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
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To: trebb

There are just as many misanthropic fruits here as there are on DU. They just happen to vote for the other side (most of the time).


71 posted on 04/11/2015 4:26:55 AM PDT by Future Snake Eater (CrossFit.com)
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To: Future Snake Eater

Roger that, Major. God Bless...


72 posted on 04/11/2015 5:15:54 AM PDT by trebb (Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
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To: Publius

Remember, he left 9 mill+ with Elliot & Gretchen.


73 posted on 04/11/2015 7:17:45 AM PDT by Coronal
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To: Coronal
But if Elliott and Gretchen don't do their jobs, Badger and Skinny Pete will whack them.

In the first episode of "Better Call Saul", did you notice Skinny Pete, all dressed up and not drug addicted, set off the metal detector in the courthouse?

74 posted on 04/11/2015 11:32:34 AM PDT by Publius ("Who is John Galt?" by Billthedrill and Publius now available at Amazon.)
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To: manc

The biggest wrong is that the LE keep your seixed assets until after you are found innocent. !!! You need these assets after initial seizure TO HIRE A LAWYER. What good is getting it back after you have lost due to the inability to hire a lawyer !!!


75 posted on 05/06/2015 7:07:57 PM PDT by George from New England (escaped CT in 2006, now living north of Tampa)
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