Signing off on theft made legal

[98valk]

Cops nationwide stealing cash, jewelry, valuables from innocent citizens under 'civil forfeiture' laws



Astonishingly, many police departments defend this abomination.

"We all know the way things are right now - budgets are tight," Steve Westbrook, the executive director of the Sheriffs' Association of Texas, told Silverman.

"It's definitely a valuable asset to law enforcement, for purchasing equipment and getting things you normally wouldn't be able to get to fight crime," he said.

Other officers said, if the practice of civil forfeiture becomes too heavily regulated to use, their departments would collapse economically - and, of course, that would endanger public safety (can you say fearmongering).

Per Silverman:

But a system that proved successful at wringing profits from drug cartels and white-collar fraudsters has also given rise to corruption and violations of civil liberties. Over the past year, I spoke with more than a hundred police officers, defense attorneys, prosecutors, judges, and forfeiture plaintiffs from across the country. Many expressed concern that state laws designed to go after high-flying crime lords are routinely targeting the workaday homes, cars, cash savings, and other belongings of innocent people who are never charged with a crime.

This pathetic use of the law amounts to little more than legalized theft. If a private citizen were to do something like this, he or she would go to jail.

Civil forfeiture in the case of a convicted criminal is one thing; stealing from innocent people to fund your police department is quite another.

And quite despicable.



Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/041828_cops_innocent_civilians_civil_forfeiture.html#ixzz2dvaijSgI


Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/041828_cops_innocent_civilians_civil_forfeiture.html#ixzz2dvaJF1VG

[WamegoRob]

I got pulled over, presumably for speeding, just north of Austin a couple of years ago, driving a rental Dodge Charger.  I had been in town for a funeral and the officer actually bothered to separate me and my wife to verify that story... for speeding?
He then asked more questions about how much money me and my family had with us than he did about anything pertaining to my driving.

"Policing for Profit"
http://www.ij.org/policing-for-profit-the-abuse-of-civil-asset-forfeiture-4


"So if these officers out on the interstate don't come up with cash, then they might lose their jobs"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJd4Q4u5cqU

[Momz]

In MI, if you are pulled over on your motorcycle (for any type of violation) an you don't have a "CY" endorsement on your drivers license, you risk losing your motorcycle.

ABATE of MI urges all motorcyclists to get legal. Unendorsed cyclists are the largest segment of accident statistics compiled by the OHSP and the State Police.

[mike4sho]

Not all states and not all police officers take part in this.  If the people you elect push for laws like this, then it's on the people to get them off the books.  Unfortunately it looks like a few, especially that interdiction sergeant, was abusing his power and should not be working the streets. 

[Momz]

mike4sho

If you ride, then why should you not be endorsed?
You are not allowed to drive a tractor-trailer or a bus without being properly licensed.

The majority of motorcycle fatalities in the state of MI were unendorsed or using a Temporary Instruction Permit (TIP).
That means that those riders were unqualified or untrained in the proper riding techniques.

Stolen vehicles need to be returned to their rightful owners though. And I agree that there are cops that are nothing more than thieves. Thieves need to have their hands chopped off!
I support the confiscation of any vehicles when the driver is not properly licensed.

[Robert]

When I took my mc course most were cops that had been riding awhile. As for the confiscations be careful what money you take they can take it and you will not get it back.

I want to remind everyone also that if the Police want to they can take your house after responding to calls 3 or more times, deeming it a problem.

But many folks are unfamiliar with the idea of civil forfeiture, which is actually a case brought against, directly against a piece a property, where you don't need to be proven guilty of a crime for your goods to be taken away. And many of the conventional protections that you have under the criminal process are not afforded to you in a civil forfeiture case.

RAY SUAREZ: So, there's no trial. There's no requirement to provide evidence to prove the state's suspicion. They just take your stuff.

SARAH STILLMAN: Exactly.

And you don't even have the right to a lawyer. So, conventionally, if you're facing the loss of your home or the loss of your car or cash, normally, at the very least, you would have someone who is able to represent you in these claims.

In places like Washington, D.C., you have to even pay $2,500 simply for the right to contest the case. And you're, again, not entitled to representation when you do that. So it can be a very costly process and also just a very confusing, arduous process to figure out, how do you contest?

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/nation/july-dec13/assets_08-19.html

[Fritz The Cat]

Gee, I wonder how bad a raping the people will stand before they begin to fight back? There is a word for people who will tolerate abuse like this but it's not suitable for an Internet forum like this one. 

[Jess from VA]

Civil Forfeiture started out being a very good way to go after affluent criminals (still is).  If you can't convict them personally of big crimes, you can take a piece of their ill gotten gains (often cash).  (organized crime, drugs, money laundering).  But it's only supposed to be a forfeiture of an instrumentality of crime.  The boats or planes carrying drugs.  The mob corner bar used to plan crime, store and fence stolen swag, hide cash and arms, quarter soldiers.  To take the astronomical personal fortunes of astronomical stock swindlers.

Then it was expanded to smaller stuff like the pimp's or dealer's or even the john's car.  A car can often be rightfully called an instrumentality of crime.  (but will they forfeit my car for a no-injury reckless, or 20 over?)

When it is used against non (or minor) criminal regular people it seems wrong. 

And it is definitely wrong if what is being forfeited is not clearly related to or a direct instrumentality of crime, as required.  This is where the problems are.  And as it is only a civil matter (thou more serious criminal conduct is a prerequisite to civil forfeiture), the state only has to carry a burden of proof by a preponderance, not beyond a reasonable doubt.  And the State is represented by paid prosecutors, and you get to hire who you can afford..... for an uphill fight.  Civil forfeiture was written to punish crime, not to fund the State.

I find the expansion of civil forfeiture for income as troubling as that of imminent domain. 
We take what we want.  So sue me, best of luck with that.