Holder limits seized-asset sharing process...
January 16th, 2015 at 12:26:48 PM
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From the Washington Post today:
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Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. on Friday barred local and state police from using federal law to seize cash, cars and other property without evidence that a crime occurred.
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Well, I have to give credit to our Attorney General in the United States: this has been long overdue and after reading many horror stories of businesses being ruined and gamblers arbitrarily having their bankrolls confiscated, I'm happy to see that action is being taken. Call me cynical, but I frankly I never thought it would and I was starting to wonder what the heck was going on in the United States.
Anyway, something to cheer, if it does indeed stop this abuse of power...
>>>
Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. on Friday barred local and state police from using federal law to seize cash, cars and other property without evidence that a crime occurred.
<<<
Well, I have to give credit to our Attorney General in the United States: this has been long overdue and after reading many horror stories of businesses being ruined and gamblers arbitrarily having their bankrolls confiscated, I'm happy to see that action is being taken. Call me cynical, but I frankly I never thought it would and I was starting to wonder what the heck was going on in the United States.
Anyway, something to cheer, if it does indeed stop this abuse of power...
Lack of prior planning on your part doesn't constitute an emergency on my part.
January 16th, 2015 at 12:31:03 PM
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nice move, but I suppose they can use local and state law ...
the next time Dame Fortune toys with your heart, your soul and your wallet, raise your glass and praise her thus: “Thanks for nothing, you cold-hearted, evil, damnable, nefarious, low-life, malicious monster from Hell!” She is, after all, stone deaf. ... Arnold Snyder
January 16th, 2015 at 12:35:50 PM
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Quote: odiousgambitnice move, but I suppose they can use local and state law ...
Arrgh- I hope state and local laws don't actually have this power on their books. It's crazy: when I think of some of the times I've had a decent amount of money after a winning session that could have just been taken, it's scary. There are probably people on this Forum that have had this happen to them...
Lack of prior planning on your part doesn't constitute an emergency on my part.
January 16th, 2015 at 12:46:14 PM
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Quote: odiousgambitnice move, but I suppose they can use local and state law ...
doesn't federal law trump state or local law?
Expect the worst and you will never be disappointed.
I AM NOT PART OF GWAE RADIO SHOW
January 16th, 2015 at 12:51:29 PM
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"While police can continue to make seizures under their own state laws" Yup.
But this does throw a monkey wrench into
it. Now the cops are even more pissed at
Obama. Hundreds of police depts had 20%
or more of their revenue coming from legal
seizures.
But this does throw a monkey wrench into
it. Now the cops are even more pissed at
Obama. Hundreds of police depts had 20%
or more of their revenue coming from legal
seizures.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
January 16th, 2015 at 1:03:59 PM
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Quote: EvenBob"While police can continue to make seizures under their own state laws" Yup.
But this does throw a monkey wrench into
it. Now the cops are even more pissed at
Obama. Hundreds of police depts had 20%
or more of their revenue coming from legal
seizures.
You know, when I heard police could just take your money and then you had to sue to *try* and get it back, I couldn't believe it: not in this country I thought. And yet it was true. I remember one time I was at the Windsor border coming back into the United States and they put me in small back room and made me count my money, presumably to see if I had over 10k. While I don't recall the process being horrible and I didn't think I would be stolen from, I certainly wouldn't have felt comfortable if the situation occurred on a highway stretch sometime at night. But this money-grab that's been going on has got to stop and hopefully this will help that cause.
Lack of prior planning on your part doesn't constitute an emergency on my part.
January 16th, 2015 at 1:20:54 PM
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I called a cop friend of mine in Ohio. Our conversation went something like this:
Cop: "We can still take your cash. This means that we don't have to share it with the Feds. We keep it all."
Me: "Seriously? Or are you f#ck#ng with me?"
Cop: "I'm serious."
Me: "WTF."
Cop: "We can still take your cash. This means that we don't have to share it with the Feds. We keep it all."
Me: "Seriously? Or are you f#ck#ng with me?"
Cop: "I'm serious."
Me: "WTF."
January 16th, 2015 at 1:39:38 PM
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Quote: HowMany
Cop: "We can still take your cash. This means that we don't have to share it with the Feds. We keep it all."
My understanding is it's much harder
when the Fed laws aren't involved.
They can still take it under some
circumstances but it's also easier
to get it back, so they won't be doing
it as much.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
January 16th, 2015 at 1:43:25 PM
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I hope you're right EvenBob.
January 16th, 2015 at 1:53:02 PM
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Sounds like about time. We're a small population which knows about this and really most of us have little chance of being affected. However, some populations know it all too well and it's a huge victory for them. Two or three years from now, we'll most likely see a Republican president and this policy will return.
I am a robot.
January 16th, 2015 at 1:59:21 PM
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Quote: onenickelmiraclelikely see a Republican president and this policy will return.
LOL! Look at the chart, it spiked as soon
as Obama took office.
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
January 16th, 2015 at 2:04:19 PM
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Quote: EvenBob"While police can continue to make seizures under their own state laws" Yup.
But this does throw a monkey wrench into
it. Now the cops are even more pissed at
Obama. Hundreds of police depts had 20%
or more of their revenue coming from legal
seizures.
About time, at least I can no longer say Holder has not done one good thing.
As to the cops, screw them. Policing is not supposed to be a profit venture. Let them cut back, drive a few older cars and such.
In the end we just delayed the trip to police state a few months.
All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others
January 16th, 2015 at 2:06:40 PM
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Quote: AZDuffman
As to the cops, screw them. Policing is not supposed to be a profit venture. .
This says it all, cops are basically no better
than crooks.
"Previous attempts at reform have largely been stymied due to intense lobbying from law enforcement groups, for whom asset forfeiture can be a significant source of revenue."
"It's not called gambling if the math is on your side."
January 16th, 2015 at 2:07:09 PM
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One step done. Civil forfeiture isn't legal under Minnesota state law, hopefully more states get similar legislation passed.
January 16th, 2015 at 3:59:13 PM
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Quote: EvenBobLOL! Look at the chart, it spiked as soon as Obama took office.
Does correlation imply causation?
Or... is it possible that more and more jurisdictions were just learning of the possibilities and figuring out ways to do it, and that had nothing at all to do with who is President?
How about the correlation of local jurisdictions imposing seizures/forfeitures and the political leanings of local elected officials like Governors and Attorneys General?
May the cards fall in your favor.
January 16th, 2015 at 5:03:47 PM
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Quote: AZDuffmanPolicing is not supposed to be a profit venture.
Amen. This one of those rare rare issues that hardcore liberals and hardcore conservatives can agree on. Regardless of party affiliation, at the grassroots level, virtually every American is disgusted by asset forfeiture with no trial. (The politicians in Washington who support these awful bipartisan laws are a different story.)
This video is worth watching.
