Civil Asset Forfeiture in Texas Is Creating An Unlikely Alliance (HBO)
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- Опубликовано: 27 сен 2024
- In Texas, a public fight has broken out over a strategy used to fight drug crime: Civil asset forfeiture, which lets police officers seize property from suspected criminals. Opposition to the tactic is uniting two groups who don’t usually get along: lawbreakers, and conservative politicians. VICE News Tonight correspondent Roberto Ferdman goes to Austin, Texas to see how this law is impacting people's lives who aren't actually convicted crimes.
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Watch Next: How Police Departments Use Civil Forfeiture to Collect Billions - bit.ly/2tW6aGY
Is this video going to be updated following the Supreme Court Verdict on Indiana v Tyson Timbs.
Yo, where can I find the sources where you guys found all the information?
This is bad, i did not expected this from President Trump. This method to take property without conviction is bad, atleast there should be measures that would let the innocent get their property back as quickly as possible, meaning certain period where the confiscated items cannot be used or sold till the matter is clear in court, and free of charge if innocent. The biggest problem is, the one's confiscating are the one's using them directly. As for the cartel statement; what happens when the fox kills every rabbit in the forest? No more rabbits. Similarly since the one's taking it are using it directly, it has become part of their diet, meaning cutting the roots of the drug source is bad for them, therefore ending the cartel is bad for them, which was the whole point of the thing, to destroy cartel.
You're right it is an asset to the officers they don't even have to report it to anyone
@@ashjin9000 So much for the land of the free.
Not much difference between that sheriff and the cartel as far as I can see.
@Sheal Dedmon
There's plenty of difference between the cartels and that sheriff!
At least if/when you're dealing with the cartels you know the deal. The cartels aren't trying to be your friend or claim to be helping you as they reach into your back pocket and empty out your wallet! Usually if you deal with the cartels you are pulling your own wallet out to hand them money for a product they are selling. They're not pretending to be the good guys!
THE CARTEL IS LESS LIKELY TO SHOOT YOU IN THE BACK. TREE TRIMMERS ARE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TOO DIE OR BE SERIOUSLY INJURED , YET THEY DO NOT CLAIM TOO BE HERO'S. THE REALITY IS MOST COPS ARE BULLY, COWARDS.
Sheal Dedmon No Difference !!!!!
One difference cartels don't sit in front of a camera tell you who has the money they stole.
G r a h a m It takes a special kind of axxhole to brag about something like that.
Even when done for what may seem like a good reason , the ability of government to seize property without due process is the beginning of tyranny .
That IS tyranny.
I hate to tell you this but we re already asshole deep in tyranny.
It's not the beginning of tyranny, it IS tyranny. The 2A is supposed to take care of that but the 2A does work when you have a nation of pussies.
Beginning?
Surely you jest.
There is a lot of things innocent people can do with their money
Smoking weed?! You criminal!
*steals her car*
But it's legal to smoke cancerous cigarettes and drink alcohol. I don't smoke weed but the hypocrisy is ridiculous.
*GRAND THEFT AUTO*
Exactly!!!
You're not allowed to drink and drive, but you can pull up to any store n buy booze in a drive through. They will also sale you rolling papers, but if you get pulled over after you leave the store you can get a paraphernalia charge. Which could be as high as 500$ depending on city/state laws of coarse
This cop is a lyer. He know that their taking innocent people's property
The fact that law enforcement can seize your property legally without even charging you with a crime is probably one of the most f*cked up, corrupt and disgusting things I've ever heard of.
The fact that this exists without having been written to exist within the Constitutional protections is astounding. Everyone has protected rights, this circumvents it all on technicality.
Also, that legality is only there because no one has ripped those abusing it all the way up to the Supreme Court and that Congress has no backbone.
@@DennisHolmberg-sl1hz A right that can be taken away, isn't a right, it is a privilege. Words matter. We need someone to inform those in power what the definition of each mean.
How to fix this, ITS CALLED DUE PROCESS. Problem is in America we have a corrupt justice system. Due process is a joke when you are convicted before you step foot in a court room.
Let's be clear about one thing. It's not in America that justice system is corrupt. Every. Single. Country. Has corrupt legal system. Why do you think the founding fathers fought so hard to keep the law simple? Men are corrupt...period. This is the fundamental issue with people naively thinking that the system is there to take ca of its citizens
Bob Jones Revolution!
I was in the market for a used car. I've found that my negotiation position with a seller improves dramatically when I count out the cash in front of him. Carrying $10,000.00 in cash would not be an unusual thing to do in a situation like that. However....I stopped doing it...not because I was afraid I would be robbed by a bad guy but because I was afraid a cop would do it. Nice, huh?
thats why you never answer questions not directly pertaining to the stop. If you do it makes it more suspect when you get to a question you don't want to answer....like, Do you have a large amount of money in your vehicle. for example.
@@thelaughingman79 regardless, even if you do answer all their questions, never consent to a search
How ironic that those who we entrust to fight against theft are the same people who are perpetrating it.
Dont trust the mechanic. They can steal from people more than a common thief could.
Under color of authority...
Well if you don’t commit crimes you won’t lose your stuff
@@antonioaiello6588 ruclips.net/video/MkeS_0NQUZs/видео.html
@@antonioaiello6588 I wish what you say was true.
No conviction is required all is required is for the officer to have a suspicion a crime has been reported. Many people aren't even taken to trial but they still lose their money or other valuable belongings like their car or computer.
Crime doesn't pay unless your a cop / criminal.
It pays a lot more if your the Cop.
THIN BLUE LINE IS THE LINE BETWEEN BEING A COP OR A CRIMINAL. IT CAN BE INTERCHANGED AT A MOMENTS NOTICE...... NEVER COOPERATE....
WHEN A COP SHOWS UP....THEY ARE "NEVER THERE TO HELP" . ITS IN THEIR JOB DESCRIPTION!!!
@@bicyclist2 Yup, criminals don't get 'qualified immunity' to keep them from being sued.
Innocent until proven guilty.
When did we give up this right
When the militia stopped executing corrupt people.
Shoegum when we told the cops : "hey u can use that $$ for new police/sheriff department equipment and payroll" ....
@Cynthia Pope this is america
Same time we gave up due process of law. Thanks, republicans!
when people started thinking drugs were somehow ruining communities when really its the prohibition that ruins things.......
Civil asset forfeiture can destroy lives, bankrupt families, make people homeless, and loose their jobs.
That's like taxation without representation which is one reason the war for independence was fought.
You know your history well done sir 👊
...and one of the many reasons a Second Revolutionary War and Second Civil War will be fought!
A person should be convicted before assets can be seized permanently. This practice is wrong.
It is disgusting how the police chief justifies stealing people's belongings.. someone who is caught for simple possession is clearly not a cartel member.. I can't believe this type of crap actually happens and they are able to get away with it
It is disgusting that he specifically refers to Cartels, when many of the small time CF obviously have nothing to do with such things.
seizing citizens private property is fighting drug cartels in mexico?
that old cop is not that bright
It is for Republicunts in Tex-ass/ He probably thinks that him and Trumptard are best of friends and he has nothing to worry about. If something happens, he just has to call his besty and have him send the national guard or army in.
This is just a drop in the ocean regarding this and our bought and paid for congress makes great lip service about how outrageous it's getting and yet does nothing about it. We are having expensive homes taken when a child of the owners gets arrested with $40 worth of heroin. Company owned vehicles seized when employees get caught breaking the law in them. Commercial properties stolen when renters in that property commit some sort of crime and the owners of the buildings had nothing at all to do with the business that rented from them. Cash taken from drivers on highways without any charges or even tickets written. Citizens extorted by threats of severe retaliation if they dare fight back or offered half back if they become too loud. I mean would this really even be an issue in a true Constitutional Republic where the rights of the individuals are to be protected above all else BY our government agencies? Maybe this is the giant alarm bells ringing for the time to wake up and take notice of what the hell is really going on in this totalitarian fascist police state.
it's also being abused by law" enforcement" to bolster their incomes. Due process should only be the way that forfeiture. Thus hence the term "highway robbery"
Civil asset forfeiture is pathetic and un-American. I would vote not-guilty in any case where a LEO died trying to seize someone's property in such a manner.
Rusty Shackleford I agree 💯% with you Mr. Gribble.
There usually is no court. That's the whole point.
A taco truck owner had $10,000 taken by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. No arrest and no charges. A state judge ordered the return of his money. Too bad. His money had already been transferred to the feds. His lawyer advised him to write it off. It's just too expensive to fight the U.S. government.
Great point, didn't think of that. I would do the same.
@Armando van Haaren Exactly. The fact they gave away money that was not theirs should not be his problem.
Wild Biker Bill
....theirs....
this is a very abused system
Doesn't the police department eventually get to auction off assets that go uncollected? Criminals busting "criminals" under the guise of fighting the cartel. Want to really fight the cartel? Legalize everything and treat drugs as a public health issue, not criminal. Ohh but the DEA doesn't want that, their jobs are more important!
Especially when they say they lost her vehicle that way they can never give it back to her. And then she ain't got a leg to stand on at the end no matter what there will be a judge it will be in one of them cops pocket at the end she's not going to get shit. Especially from Texas
Yep, I don't indulge myself but have been to Amsterdam a few times and if she wants to get high, let her. Portugal legalized everything and does exactly as you suggest. They treat addiction. It's time to empty the jails of the petty offenders. Legalize it and pull the rug out from under the cartels.
Plop i dont think they should legalize every drug i mean heroine and cocaine is some really heavy shit, maybe just the little shit like weed or acid or something.
@@boby9222 Then criminalize distribution instead of mere possession.
@@yungsouichi2317 i mean ya for sure but still you should at least be arrested for some of the heavier drugs and like get a court order to take a rehab class.
Can't say I agree with them doing it to someone who is obviously not part of the Cartel.
There should be a conviction first.
Making sure that a law that is hundreds of years old stays so you can basically plunder someones property.
Pathetic.
Guilty until proven innocent
Yeah but remember that I am not a drug cartel member and I have lost 6 Apple I tunes,cards over the year.
Apple iTunes cards?
"It's a big club and you ain't in the big club"...George Carlin.
Hearing her makes my soul hurt.... And the sad part is we know she will never see that Jeep again.
I would like to see a breakdown of all of the seizures and who it was seized from to see what percentage of property seized was from cartels. I bet it’s a low percentage.
WHAT IS THE POINT OF WORKING HARD AND CONTRIBUTING TO SOCIETY IF THE CORRUPT GOVERNMENT IS JUST GOING TO TAKE IT AWAY AT RANDOM
That's what income taxes are too.
Whats the percentage that asset forfeiture are coming from the Cartel and from US citizens? Is this law hurting more or less US citizens than its helping?
usfdave10 it's something along the line of 90% civilian and 10% drug cartel. They did another documentary on it
+Daniel Baux Oh, they never stated that in this video though. So the law is hurting more US citizens than its stopping the Cartel, but they disguise it as if it is helping stop the "war on drugs".
usfdave10 yessir. It's pretty much only targeting American citizens. Some stories are beyond fucked up too. Where families who own a legal weed business in legal states get their house raided. And the police take all the cars, all the cash, all the tvs, and they even take the wife's nude pictures/sex objects.
There's also a statistic on the other documentary that says the average amount of cash taken by cops is $800. Cartels my fucking ass.
and @3:42 the president threatens to "destroy someones career" over protecting this law. Seems like peoples lives are already getting destroyed.
Wouldn't republicans get behind stopping this bill of it costs American workers their jobs and which leads to onto the handout system?
I'm going through similar. But no drugs they arrested me & towed my vehicle for registration not being in my name. I'm still attempting to get it back.
So much for the presumption of innocence
How are you innocent when caught with drugs?
Well, there needs to be a conviction first.
I guarantee you there will be one. First two cops as witnesses, second presumably the balls of resin as evidence and thirdly and most daringly her own admission, to the police, that it is indeed a marijuana product and not black tar heroin. No lawyer in the world could get her of...
Im not denying that. I am merely stating the fact that there has to be a conviction until the presumption of innocence is lifted.
Then we are in agreement. Ave
Classic police state.
Property is liberty. America's gone down the wrong path from the revolution, and that's coming from a Brit.
What was the point of all the deaths from that war, if this was how things were going to end up anyway? Amiright?
THIS gov official ABUSE IS one of the reasons WHY WE HAVE BLACKLIVESMATTER
+francisco acevedo did you know that B.L.M. was funded by George Soros who is a white man who doesn't care about you! It's only about the end game!!! Do your research and find out what comes from where.
@MrTron the cops do target black people. Detroit cops are trained to stop black people instead of white people, so says a retired Detroit officer.
If someone stole my life savings and I had nothing left I'm showing up on that cop's front door and changing both our lives.
The Sheriff has some nerve, at the 6:07 mark he goes in on people who complain and site things that they have heard about asset forfeiture without showing any proof, yet at the beginning the sheriff wouldn't name the senator who was in opposition to asset forfeiture when President Trump asked. If that isn't hypocritical I don't know what is...."Double Speak is the language that law enforcement uses. Especially operating under color of law & not abiding by their oaths to the Constitution.
The lack of due process violates the constitution. Enforce it. Hold these local, state and federal authorities accountable for their actions. Learn your state's organic constitution & enforce it....
Never trust a cop, they are not your friend.
A truer statement has never been made!!!!
Anyone taking something from someone else without a judge's order is an armed thief and should be treated as such, badge or not.
I was appalled by the sheriff's argument about civil asset forfeiture being the only effective tool they have against the cartels. After all, summary executions would be even more effective, but that would not make them right. Having _no_ effective tools on the enforcement side would actually be a benefit in the big picture; moving away from approaches that don't work is how we get to approaches that do work. As it is, the ineffective efforts at enforcement admittedly allow the cartels to go about their business with only a slight adjustment. However, law enforcement is very good at devastating lives of citizens who may or may not be guilty of an associated offense.
Like demolishing old property, executions costs money, they're in the business of making money, as always 'other peoples money'.
I do not see how this law really impacts the Cartels in any meaningful way.
The fact there is even any DEBATE about this subject shouts volumes !!
EVERYONE should already know this is wrong
I wonder how proponents of Civil Asset Forfeiture would react if it was used on law abiding gun owners?
Vaf lose their shit
It IS used on guns.
Your gun is the first thing they would take.
well that and CASH!!
I don't think that this is going to be a GOOD THING can anyone find a,way to get the era's readers.
If something like this happened to me i would become a thief, and i would target all law enforcement officers.
D O can't say I blame you.
The money they got from this poor girls car probably only covered a week or 2 pay of her arresting officer
They buy margarita machines with this stuff. These cops are dirty. They fund their illicit activities from theft. They are nazis and communists working against the American people.
A few years back they were called Highway Men
Just one question,...
If civil asset forfieture is to combat the drug cartels, WHY ARE THEY GETTING AMERICAN GUNS FROM THE SAME LEO'S?
much love to the Sister that lost the jeep
Not getting any of my property without a gun fight.
this is an issue where everyone should agree if there is no crime than your stuff should be left alone.
I think you're wasting air under the federal "blow it out your ass" law of 2001. Where do you live so we can come take all your shit?
Yeah it’s a benefit to the officers, they keep the damn cash and sell off the cars and possessions for cash.
Civil Asset forfeiture without conviction is nothing but theft. And it is unconstitutional. Your property cannot be seized without due process of law. Period.
"Weakening the cartel." LOL
If we steal enough money then logically some of it may have eventually ended up with drug cartels.
So you see us strongarming citizens is for freedom.
Actually just a couple of weeks ago this was ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Danny Smith actually, they only ruled that the seizure couldn't exceed the monetary penalty of a crime. They said NOTHING about uncharged people who had their money stolen by armed robbers with badges.
The "war on drugs", ruining one life at a time.
This cop is nothing more than a criminal himself. Fighting for the "authority" to take innocent people's property. Cop logic 101: Why should we have to prove someone committed a crime? Shouldn't our "word" be enough?
exactly, its fucking disgusting and makes me sick to my stomach
This only becomes a real problem when people who aren't using or dealing drugs start getting their cars taken away.
It is. There have been people who have had their money taken with no drugs on them just too much cash.
It's the police state we live in which was started long before Obama.
@harvey carter air head
@harvey carter well trumo agrees with this as you saw so ur blaming the wrong guy
the city of Rockwell is also rich as shit fyi
douchechips oh hell yeah. A lot of cities in Texas are. Because of this and many other things they do saying it's because of the cartel it's just legalized theft
if i was her. Texas would be history for me.
sad that my county is the only county in Texas you can carry 4 ounces of bud without going to jail should be the whole state ... Harris County/Houston
I am a legal business owner. The Duncanville police department took all of my CBD products claiming they were marijuana. They filed civil asset forfeiture case against me. The case was dismissed and yet the police department still refuses to return the $11,841.00 they took from me. No legal charges have been filed against me. No testing has been done in the products to prove what they are.
Civil asset forfeiture case law needs to be reformed. Average citizens are being hurt by the broad laws. Conviction should be required to keep property. Civil asset forfeiture cases are the only time you are not innocent until proven guilty. It assumes you are guilty, doesn’t require any conviction to punish you.
This is a simple end run around due process
It also gives the state the opportunity to completely strip a person of the right to even defend yourself in court
A TRUE conservative would be against this!
there are no true conservatives. They are extremists and thugs who value skin color over constitutional rights.
@@chieftech714 not every person who might be a conservative is a skinhead. Lol. That's like saying every liberal is a vegan communist revolutionary SJW.
@@kvltizt unless you are a fiscal conservative that supports and empowers small, accountable government that spends our tax dollars on US, and invests in US, and attempts to get ROI for US, then you are just a racist hiding behind labels. As far as I can see, there are no conservatives in the republican party. They have been spending like damn fools, giving the richest people on the planet more riches at our expense and investing in nothing. enough with the fking word games and the gaslighting. it is what the fk it is. period.
@@chieftech714 I'm not a Republican. I just get annoyed when a Trumpster calls me commie, so I try not to call every conservative a racist Nazi, That's all.
Konni is standing us for the common man/woman good for Konni.
Wow, I actually agree with Vice on something. I am in Texas though. I'm sure Mindy was El chapo's right hand. I can't stand government over reach.
"Law enforcement uses the law to fight cartels" then uses the law against the public and not the cartels. Count on the cops to lie every chance they get..
Hence the reason for the second amendment
In any state/county/city/or town. the Police and Sheriff's departments are the biggest criminal gang.
There are alot of questions this reporter could have asked that sheriff but he really blew it. Also the reason that girl can't find out anything about her Jeep is because after a month or so that thing has already been auctioned off and the cops kept the cash.
At one time, asset forfeiture was only done by the IRS for unpaid taxes. Giving the local police this power was a huge obvious mistake.
It's robbery pure and simple.
whoever enacted this law doesn't know about Murphy's law.
The cartel is fighting itself and we are all in the crosshairs.
Sounds like a good way to cause even more civil unrest.
Note that Civil Asset Forfeiture does not require that the assets taken are from people who are charged with a crime, much less convicted. It does not even require probable cause.
For example, if you have $10,000 cash and are going to the next town to buy a car, if you are stopped by the police, they can say that they suspect that money is involved with drugs. They can take that money from you at the side of the road without due process. To get that money back, you have to hire a lawyer and go into a courtroom that benefits from the money taken from you and you have to prove that money was not to be used for drugs. You will probably not get your money back, but you still have to pay your lawyer.
The problem is that the police officers and courts that take your money use it as a revenue stream. It's very much a tax at gunpoint.
The way it should work, is that the onus needs to be on the police and the courts to prove that the money was intended for illegal purposes. The best way to do that is through a conviction. For international drug lords, convictions are often obtained "in absencia" if they cannot be brought into court. Those kind of trials happen all the time. Otherwise, the money should be returned to the owner.
Land of the free. Had enough yet?
But texas will continue to vote red.
Exactly. Voting "red" will simply not mean you support law enforcement if this "law" continues.
I presume his salary and retirement would be greatly reduced if he could no longer steel from his citizens.
Citizens need to start pressing charges of constitutional right violations, perjury,crimes under title 18 u.s.c. sections 241 and 242,grand larceny, criminal theft,grand theft auto.
Corrupt law enforcement in Texas? Get out! This is groundbreaking news! HAHAHAHAHAH!
Legislation needs to be enacted so that CAF under a certain amount whether drugs or cash require a jury trial to determine if CAF is warranted
3:13 Notice the order he places the citizens benefits... Last. "Dream on, by the people for the people". Its for Law enforcement enrichment."
Im ready for a new political party in America. A Party run on the idea that you reap what you sow; I think the president shouldn't want the job and a campaign should convince you to vote for the other person.
It's nice to be nice to nice people, and just to be hard on bad ones. I think as time goes on, a new party will emerge, because so many folks are so fed up with "us and them"
BCCmate that is a very humble/good idea, but the US of A is a long way from allowing that to happen.
Is it true you need a certain approval rating to enter a presidential debate and express what your party plans on doing?
Trump has fan clubs and tiweter we need to tell hem what's happening to good hard work Americans all over this country that's what the British did to us so we started American hopefully we can change the law soon go and vote
These are the legal cartels (👮♂️)
Hi! Local north texan here! Civil asset forfeiture is just a way for cops to take people's money because they can tske it from anyone and even after their found innocent they cant get their stuff back
Nowonder why the country is legalizing drugs. Its either that... or this
Civil Asset Forfeiture is the modern equivalent of the 1700's practice of "writs of assistance". Those writs were blank papers allowing the British governance to seize property from colonist deemed as "contraband", no conviction or charges needed. That violated the English right of due process then, and violates the right of due process today. In 1761, James Otis Jr. fought these in court and John Adams was in that court. Adams later described Otis as the "fire brand" and "midwife" of the liberty movement that 15 years later erupted as the revolution. I have read through the "replevin", a personal action brought forward to recover property unlawfully taken, a process that people are forced to go through to get their property back, it is costly and requires bonds be made before getting the chance to argue in court. Most of the time the people do not have the means to even begin that process and their property is lost through attrition. The judiciary, wrongly identified as the court, presumes the seizure was lawful and the property owner has the burden of proof against the state's claim of lawful and legitimate act of seizure.
Civil Asset Forfeiture should AUTOMATICALLY return the assets if there are no charges.
why do Americans say "the cartel" like it is just one big cartel; wtf???
Because it scares the idiots into being compliant.
😂😂😂 Brilliant! Brilliant!
I love Americans' sense of humor. This isn't found anywhere else in the world. Never ever have I seen such a genre of ' humor'. Kind of understatement of daily life in the US. And the crazy and bizarre, if not surreal, things 'government' can do. I thought Mr Bean is funny. But this is hilarious. Your scriptwriter is absolutely a creative genius.
Is this a SNL type of programme? Strange humor but I suppose people and countries have different kinds of humor. Will definitely get used to it. Must say it is very funny. It is an original kind of humor that I've never seen before. Not the slapstick kind of humor associated with the US. The actors are very convincing. Very very good acting. No overacting. Dark humor?
Thanks!
Sad to see a senior police officer who is seemingly blind to the injustices imposed on innocent citizens by profit motivated police actions. Civil asset forfeiture laws need to be amended to apply only to convicted criminals and revenues derived from seizures not be given to officers who are policing for profit.
What's the difference between real criminals and police criminals? The law ,empowering one over the other.
They said $32 million went to Texas law enforcement. How much you want to bet the rest went to the Texas attorney state generals office.
This is heartbreaking to see. And this happens a lot to landlords, they become victims of this. That is why As a landlord, one of your biggest concerns is to protect the investments you have made in your property. Finding good tenants that will treat your property well and pay the rent on time is important.
If the police really want to put the cartels out of business they would advocate to end the war on drugs.
Every single American needs to know this is going on. If your rep doesn't support ending this, vote them out!
they try to tire you out and convict you of exhaustion... then you go away and they can sell the stolen goods.
I live 1 hr from that town !
They don’t have to prove your guilt, you have to prove your innocence. I used to know an older man who had a saying. If heard this story, he would say “well that’s just ack basswards!”
So much for innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
It should be against the law for public servants to decide that they will not speak to the public
If she gets the Jeep back she will be charged storage per day
How about end the drug war 🤷♂️ that would put the drug cartels out of business
In some cases, it should be illegal for police to do seizures of property. Of course, it's alright because they're law enforcement agencies and they're above the law.
If she gets a new truck she should put a small tracker in the truck to track it down faster if they cop's take it away again