Civil Asset Forfeiture is Worse Than We Thought - Lehto's Law Ep. 5.74
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- Опубликовано: 22 июл 2024
- A recent article out of South Carolina shows just how bad civil forfeiture can be. The data and stats are shocking. Read the article here: www.greenvilleonline.com/in-d...
www.lehtoslaw.com 
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This is absolutely happening. I am a retired Army officer who has never been arrested let alone convicted of a crime. Several years ago my youngest son was in a bad place financially and could not afford to keep a car. I let him use one of my cars, essentially full time, but never gave him the car or changed the title, etc. He was stopped by a local police department and found to have marijuana in his pocket and they arrested him. He called me from the squad car and asked me to come get the car. I went to the scene and asked to be allowed to take MY CAR home. The senior officer on the scene asked him who owned the car in question and I answered that I owned it. But then I foolishly mentioned that I was letting him use it full time until he was back on his feet financially. They said that they were seizing the car so that they could search it. After several days of me trying to get the car, they informed me that the car was being kept under the civil forfeiture rules, alleging that I said that my son owned the car (a total lie, and easy to show that the car was titled in my name). I had to hire an attorney and sue this police department. Four months later the case was heard before a judge who immediately directed the police to release the car to me. He also admonished the police department for what he said was a totally improper and illegal seizure. I still had to pay a fee to that police department to get my car released ($250) and another fee to the private impounding lot where they took the car ($500) in addition to the $2,000 paid to the attorney. At this hearing, my attorney tried to get the judge to direct the law breaking police department to pay his fee and all of the costs that I was stuck with, but the judge would not do so. This problem is real and has changed my entire attitude toward cooperation and support of law enforcement.
yes sir, we are not in Kansas anymore...
assholes!
@Jakob Jones I think you have gone off the deep end, I'm afraid. There are problems with how the police operate some programs. There are certainly less than perfect hospitals, and churches. But your view is clearly delusional and paranoid. Get help while you can.
First mistake is hiring a attorney.
There is a little town in south Alabama (Catleberry)that is infamous for this style of thievery. Its on a road going to Florida so a lot of out of towners and staters. They preyed on these folks and knew that theres little chance that they will challenge them in court. It’s a town with around 500 residents and they built their police dept up to have more cops and equipment than towns 10 times their size. Even got their own judge and prosecutor to manage the stealing. They not only used CAF they utilized speed traps also. This was not something that just happened, they hired an outside police chief who specialized in this and he set it up for them. This was nothing less than a criminal enterprise operating under the guise of law.
Winning my case to get MY MONEY back should require the one being sued to pay all my attorney fees plus court costs!
You damn right! And, then hold them liable for all that they put you through including jail time for those officers!
Cops . . . are you getting this ?
This practice puts you at risk and on the bad side of honest Americans.
That’s not a good place to be.
Thank you for using your forum to call attention to this national disgrace.
This is precisely why police officers are regarded with the same respect as used car salesmen
Wrong, police are regarded with far less respect than a used car salesman 😜
Should be careful about labeling good cops(or UCS's) as bad guys. Flipside of that.. don't hesitate or waiver when going after the bad guys wearing white. Prosecute
Not at all... I mean ,yes maybe from your perspective... but a criminal organization with the power to terrorize, intimidate ,rob and murder people ,with relative impunity.... they deserve much more attention, and we as sovereign people are required to inform themselves on laws/rules/regulations etc that apply to them . Having cameras in and around ones property , is a minor deterrent, but we should be armed with the knowledge of our rights, being calm and confident is easier said than done,but remaining calm,during questioning or interrogation is key ... if someone has a gun, they should inform themselves as best they can about all aspects of owning a gun, just like having a car , we need to inform ourselves on the laws,rules and regulations of operating a vehicle , home owner,marriage, business owner ,parent etc .. we have to stand up for ourselves, and stand up for each other, but we have to do it with knowledge ,patience and strength... we have allowed this system to go unchecked and unchallenged for far too long ... and it will only get worse
I trust a part time freelance used car salesman more than i trust the cops, because at least the salesman gives me a car (even if it gets repo'dl
Friends father worked for the ATF when I was a kid. He told me they always "joked" at the end of a meeting " remember ATF means Always Think Forfeiture". And this was back in the early 90s.
I worked on the Michigan Medical Marijuana petition in 2008 and have been active as a cannabis advocate since (though I was not involved with the latest adult use campaign). Even today there are people who are raided who have their cards. Everything they own of value is taken and because they have cards they are never charged. Oakland Sheriff was driving a Mustang home every night that they confiscated. This is one big reason that the cops fight cannabis legalization is it takes away some of the justification for stealing peoples property. See the Viceland report on the couple here in Michigan who were raided. The cops went through the 8 year old kids birthday cards and took the money out of them and kept it. I can't think of anything worse than stealing from a kid. These cops have no business being cops as they are horrible human beings.
I first heard about this 20 plus years ago. A fellow that traveled to Florida every year to buy starts (small plants) from smaller green houses. He then shipped the plants north and finished growing them and resold them. He was stopped in an airport and his cash taken. It was like $10K. It took him years to get it back. I was living in Cinn.,OH. then and IRC he was a local to there. I used to have great respect for law enforcement officers. As I have gotten older that has just about flipped 100%. The moral quality of the average officer is about the same as the criminal they are dealing with on a regular basis. The more local the level the worse it is. Small towns and county Sheriffs being the worse. It is not just civil forfeiture. Look at DUI case and see how those are major MONEY makers for the courts and LEOs. Also insurance companies love it too as they can charge out the nose for years after a DUI. Funny thing here is I do not drink and I think they have gone over board.
Thought of doing tourist road trips, but this is one thing that keeps me home.
Officer: "Sir, are you carrying any cash today?" You: "No, sir" . And then shut up :-) But you're right, it is a real problem that needs to be fixed.
I live in Spartanburg SC. Usually once a year they bring in multiple police agencies to help conduct what they call "operation rolling thunder" which takes place on interstate 85. They pull over and search hundreds of travelers. When that's going on I avoid the interstate at all cost. I think it's unconstitutional and needs to stop.
Every pig involved in this should be tossed from a helicopter from about 300 feet up in front of his family to show they are NOT heroes but complete zeroes
This is armed robbery.
People are wrong when they say "a few bad apples."
More than a few bad apples read Serpico. He will tell you how many " bad apples" exist!
All the cops who are ready, willing and even EAGER to participate in these types of forfeitures are nothing, but common criminals and need to be fired.
The day I learned about Civil Asset Forfeiture, is the day I knew this country was doomed.
I was stopped at a roadblock my money and car. They did not prosecute me as the prosecutor denied because of no prospects for successful prosecution but still have my money and range rover irrigardles, it's frustrating because I'm a law abiding citizen
I'm black.... it's always been a part of our experience with police. I was a teen and police claimed he smelled weed and took my $300. I went to file a complaint and they wouldn't even take the complaint.
I found $2100.00 on a state job and turned it in. I then filled out a claim for the money and was refused after 90 days and placing an ad in the paper.
As an Englishman who has moved to the U.S recently I am absolutley shocked by this license to steal. I checked Connecticut state law and it seems that only this year they passed a law stating that a conviction has to arise for them to keep the money so I feel a little safer however i would no longer carry large sums of moeny in my car thanks to your excellent advice. The wider picture here is that I have quickly developed a fear of police officers having been told by countless collegues "dont drive at night" unless you have a clear sense of where you are going or what you are doing as police officers like that!.. Say what now! This was also repeated to me by the teacher whos 8 hour class i had to sit when changing my license over from a British license to Connecticut one...What? Land of the Free? are you kidding me...I also passed my motorcycle test here as well recently and bought a motorbike for no reason other than to enjoy cruising around and taking in this very beautiful country...Until freinds told me, "dont go out at 1am in the morning on a whim for a summer ride or pretty soon you'll get stopped. I picked my jaw off the floor at this point. Is this really America now? Your Police scare me.
Abolishing asset forfeiture is one way to defund the police!
I've heard about this for at least 20 years. It needs to stop . . . NOW
I see on So. Carolina's website that payment for auctioned assets is only allowed by cash, certified or business check one or the other no split payments . So travel to the auction and get your cash seized on your way or when you get there, ha ha.
This would be a good question for politicians in every state. Do you support theft? I don't think the people of South Carolina would be very happy to lose the tourist dollars if this gets out, or maybe they would. Need to find out.
In our City this happened. A wife had just inherited $70,000 from her mother and the husband was caught stealing at his work -- they used a search warrant to look for the stolen goods and found the money -- it took her over 2 years to get this back and a lot of Newspaper articles to point out the problem... this stuff happens -- SAD...
Since this is 'civil' can civilans do the same thing back, ie. sieze a cop car as 'procceds of common theft'.
Isn't this armed robbery?
This is organized crime leaching into state government. Wake up Rick...
I purchase cars too flip, often carry cash. An officer trying too steal my money is how I am going too die. Of course, they will say they are acting under the law, I will simply be defending myself against an armed robbery
You see this is where you are wrong: Armed robbery is a felony. Civil forfeiture is LEGAL. It's not right, it's immoral, but it IS LEGAL. Only a popular movement a la MADD is going to have a chance at effecting a change in the law... IMHO of course.
I have heard of this many times before, but when you explained it I really felt my stomach turn. If this ever happens to me I think I would have to retaliate via vigilante means.
Caligula pointing to his sword exclaimed, "With this, we shall never be wanting of money!"
Road Pirates, I live in a bad road pirate state. Last time I got pulled over, I lost my cool and called the State Trooper a road pirate right to his face. I'm old and disabled so I got away with it without a ticket. We live in a POLICE STATE.
Few things anger me as much as civil forfeiture. I can't believe courts -- any courts -- would uphold such a practice. If I were a juror in a case where a person used deadly force against a cop trying to take that person's money, I'd side with the person _using_ deadly force any day. Police or federal officers attempting to take a person's wealth should be treated as thieves. A badge doesn't give a person the right to steal. "Vigilantism" is defined as that which is resorted to when law fails.
Cops need to understand this.
Civil forfeiture has been upheld by corrupt judges and I can't believe it's come to this in the United States. We Virginians have a flag that shows two people, and one is on the ground. He represents the tyrant, and his crown has fallen beside him. The motto reads (Latin): “Thus always to tyrants!” It emphasizes the importance of civic virtue, and the crown represents civil authority.
If cops and federal agents try to take a person's wealth in violation of the Constitution, they should be treated as the common criminals they are. Ask yourselves what sort of people with badges would hide behind them to commit grand larceny without due process? If they take your money, it's only a matter of time before they come for your guns and the money in your homes. Civil tyrants already can freeze and seize your bank accounts. And we, the People, must understand that the reason we have the Second Amendment is to keep the guys with the crown from negating the other amendments.
Thank you for making this video and shining a light on this subject. It is amazing that in this day things like this are going on.
Theft by force, it’s an aggravated robbery.
And cops wonder why people dislike or hate them🙄
There is nothing worse than a tyrant with a badge. All this started due to the war on drugs but instead it turned out it was war on citizens. How is this any different than living under a repressive monarchy? Keep up the good work on keeping people aware of this awful law.
Steve - Thank you for covering this important topic.
I have to ask: Where is Due Process? Where are our protections?
Constitutional Bill of Rights?
Is the Constitution now a "Dead Letter"?
I find this practice unconstitutional. Taking someone's money without due process is criminal period! Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? I'm sure this law was intended to restrict illegal activities, but if there is no crime committed then this is just evil.
My wife and I collect cars but will send no money until they are inspected and driven by us. We cannot travel to other states with cash and no one will take a personal out of state check (wisely). Our way to keep from being robbed by the side of the road in the rural areas of the USA it to make sure our bank branch is available within driving distance of the car so that we can drive or fly in, check out some cars in the area and choose which one and go get a cashiers check, with the owner if at all possible. It worked nicely even for a car that was turned in at an Audi dealership, took the salesman to Chase Bank, swiped our card for like $35k and the cashier printed a check and handed it to him.
We drove him back with the car to the dealership, signed the final paperwork and drove home on a one way road trip. The big pile of Audi dealership paperwork kept the car from being stolen by the police, because we still got pulled over in the south on our way back north, because I look foreign (boating and fishing tan) and she is white and stays out of the sun in the cabin. If we had traveled with that much cash, we would have been robbed for sure of every penny.
Southern cops are bad.
When people get enough of this crap you're gonna start seeing Civil Ass Forfeiture
You're shocked this is going on in America? I'm a black American octogenarian who survived Jim Crow with all of its draconian features. Nothing occurring in America shocks me.
I’m the RAISIN IN THE SUN IN, DUNCAN SOUTH CAROLINA!! Jim Crow part 2
Steve Lehto, I very pleased that we agree on the subject of Civil Asset Forfeiture. It is outrageous that the burden of proof is turned upside-down, and all without a shred of evidence required! This travesty must be brought to an end.
" Police never heard of civil asset forfeiture." They heard about it but it went in one ear and out the other because there was nothing between the ears.
What’s going to happen when a dude is carrying money for his kid sick with cancer for that operation? That dude may seriously not give a care and totally lose it.
I think the problem is that most people think you have to be a criminal in order for this to happen. While in fact, more and more we are finding out that anyone can be a target regardless of the situation. This disgusting practice will continue to ferment hatred towards police if it is not stopped.
Great video! I do disagree with one point. I think that South Carolina is typical of most of the states!
There was a case in Muskogee, Oklahoma where the business agent for a christian music group was stopped for a tail-light violation. In the course of investigation police found $53,000--money that the music group had raised for a church and orphanage in Burma. They took the money because it was proceeds of drug smuggling...even though they failed to prove any connection of the business manager to drugs. A bogus criminal complaint was issued by the Muskogee DA who also preceded with the Notice of Forfeiture. When the group hired a lawyer to contest the forfeiture the DA dropped the charges and returned the money. The DA's office received a great deal of negative comment from people when this entire case became public. Facts of the case are found at ij.org/case/muskogee-civil-forfeiture/
Same thing with guns. Even if the charges are later dropped try getting your gun back.
john kendall They will take guns.
this is robbery plain and simple. every victim needs to surround the homes of the criminals until they return their money
There was a case in 2016 where a Christian rock band had done a series of benefit concerts to raise money that was going to be donated to an orphanage. A sheriff deputy in Oklahoma stopped the band manager for a broken tail light and seized $53K from him. The band members and pastor involved all explained to the department where the money came from along with proof of the concerts and where the money was going, but the county still refused to give the money back. Finally the media got involved and such a public uproar was created that the sheriff’s dept was shamed into returning the money.
OK is also the state where the Highway Patrol had a device to enable them to take money off of people’s gift cards and prepaid credit cards, which they immediately began abusing. Media attention and public outcry curtailed that practice as far as I know. Hopefully.
I’ve been warned to not drive an expensive car in certain Southern States. They will seize the car and you’re still liable to pay it off. Or if you have something the department can use, they take it and it’s expensive to get it back.
Bill Serantoni bs as to only in the South. Civil forfeitures occur across the US. This is a national problem and a profoundly serious one. We need to rid ourselves of this unconstitutional activity.
The Supreme Court ruling in that case did not address the practice of civil asset forfeiture. The ruling was very limited: they held that the “excessive fines” clause of the 8th amendment applies to state and local governments in addition to the federal government. So when you fight over your forfeiture case you can raise the 8th amendment issue.
Steve some agencies also use a roadside card swipe system to empty your account and max your credit cards for asset forfeiture. It's been out for a few years. I can try to find a link if needed.
In Crook County, Illinois if the police make a civil seizure, the property owner must be notified of a probable cause hearing to be held within 14 days of the seizure. At that hearing a seizure court judge determines if PC exists for the case to go forward to trial. If PC exists, then the case is put on the docket and is usually heard within 6 months or so Most times I have seen vehicles returned to the owners based on them being innocent owners. So if I drive your car and get pinched for an offense that allows for seizure, you can go claim that you are an innocent owner. Same applies for money and other property but vehicles are seized the majority of the time.
I have heard about other counties that encourage seizure on anything that is remotely allegedly tied to a crime. If a drug dealer takes drugs or money out of his pants, they seize the pants. If a meth cook stores supplies in a fridge, they seize the fridge. As I commented on a previous video of yours there is a legitimate time and place for asset forfeiture, but serious oversight is necessary to weed out the abuse you have spoken about.
I had a time where I was going to buy a new work van for my business. I took $10,000 cash out of my safe and started driving to Baltimore to go inspect it and do the deal..
I decided to take the risk and bring my handgun with me into Maryland despite my concealed pistol permit not being reciprocated in the 'People's Republic of Maryland' just in case if something that was life threatening happened to my friend and I as we went to go buy this van.
As we are driving, my friend goes "Oh shit." I asked him what's wrong, to which he replies "You do know, that if we get pulled over, we are going to jail, right?" He continues "I don't think we are going to be able to talk our way out of having a firearm, 10 grand in cash, AND going to Baltimore"
Right then my heart sunk, He was right. It would be significantly harder for me to prove that the cash was not ill-gotten gains, and to prove that I was going there to buy a van and not going to buy Heroin..
I realized that if anything went wrong, It would be a huge legal battle and I would not end up faring well no matter how it went.
Luckily the transaction went well, and we got the hell out of Dodge, but it is moments like that which remind me how much I distain Civil Forfeiture, and how easily I could take a huge hit, regardless of any other crimes or suspicions the officer may or may not have in his or her head.
Yep pretty gross abuse of power. Problem in most states. Should be straight up illegal. Particularly abused in smaller jurisdictions with limited budgets.
It does need an explanation, it's a robbery conducted by and approved by the state.
it is a criminal racket. it is also punishment BEFORE a trial to prove guilt. it removes your ability to hire an attorney. it is just a license to steal.
Many private citizens commit civil asset forfeiture and are spending time in federal prison. Put on a badge and it’s legal.
This in it's simplicity is just plain scary. I had a knife stolen from me, I am sure under this guise. Much to my chagrin, remembering the cops taking the knife from me, when I went to retrieve my knife, I was mistaken. The police didn't remember anything about the knife. My "Case - Shark's Tooth" is in the possession of the cop who took it or someone he gave it to. Scary, Scary stuff. Thanks for the videos Steve! From Michigan myself. Born & raised in Ferndale and probably gonna pass here in White Lake. Unless of course we can move to the deep woods up in Alpena someday... We shall see! Keep up the great work!!
Once as a kid I saw a cop steal an apple from my Uncles store, bit into it...It was bad or sour
he complained to my Uncle and took another one and did so almost every day. My Uncle never complained, back then you couldn't...But from that day on my Uncle always gave that cop the best apple, and he did it personally...It wasn't til years later when I asked my Uncle about it that he confided to me that he always, without fail, pissed on the apple he gave that cop...Guess that cop liked salty apples...
.
Like Pappy always said...Don't complain...just get even...
Lmao 👍🥃🍺🍷🎂🍔❤️
At 4:41 you call civil asset forfeiture a tax for interacting with a cop. It's interesting you called it that because criminal organizations also coerce money from people and call it a tax. Take one group, either the cops or the criminal organizations, and substitute the other and somehow the act will be deemed legal or not, yet the result is the same. Theft is theft, no matter who the perpetrator is.
They siezed $20,229,080 in Michigan in 2013 alone.
Wow. Lawman racketeering. I wonder how it would play out if an officer seized under civil forfieture but the citizen made civil arrest of police officer with the Sherriff for theft.
Hoping they're not related...
We have that problem, where I live...
My South Carolina story. Back in college traveling to Daytona Beach on I-95. State police pulled me and a friend over for speeding. Cop said fine was $60. We only had $40 which cop took and said goodbye. No ticket or anything. I guess the money bought a couple dozen donuts.
I thought this only happened with the federales in Mexico. Now this type of theft is completely legal here.
Civil asset forfiture should be illegal
@@brianborell4469 It may be unconstitutional, but it is perfectly legal according to the perverted laws of this land.
Very concerning - as many people live paycheck to paycheck - just barely making it through life. Taking $500 or $1K from that person could easily snowball into missing rent, car payments or other bills - it’s not a stretch that people could eventually end up homeless and or unemployed. This could negativity effect not just that person but their family too. This is wrong & must stop.
I watched an episode of "Cops" where they set up a "Sting Operation" with an undercover cop selling weed on a street corner ...If the person bought some weed , then the cops swarmed in and arrested the buyer and seized their cars because they were transporting drugs with it ....Ludicrous isn't it ??? In NJ , I had to drive to and from work through a neighborhood that was known for drug selling. I stopped at a red light , and two kids ran up to my car and wanted to sell me weed. I refused , but a block down the road the cops pulled me over and searched my car , saying they had "suspicion" that I was transporting drugs. I did not have any drugs , but I suspect they really just wanted to seize my built up 1970 Nova.
Tourists should boycott those states.
People who are pissed about this issue should also look up the case of Castleberry, Alabama to see the extent to which "policing for profit" can trap innocent people.
Its not just money. My brother-in-law got stuck in the mud with his truck while hunting. A police car came by and decided that his expensive rifle needed ballistic testing to see if it was involved in a crime. It took him over a year and some lawyers fees to get it back. They kept telling him that it hadn't been tested yet. It was never tested. They were just hoping he would give up and let them sell it on auction.
Steven Dierks That's a Second Amendment issue and I would have to exercise that Right. A clear violation.
Is cash money now illegal and does that mean the US has no currency?
Cash is not illegal but know CAF exists so carry it accordingly.
This has been a hot button topic for me. It sounds amazing. I remember reading a case of an exotic dancer who was traveling through the midwest on her way to buy a business. He had over 100k in cash in her vehicle. The police seized it. She spent thousands in legal fees to get her own money back. So sad. How is this even still legal? Im in St George UT, right on the I-15 between Vegas and Salt Lake. I see more highway patrol stops on southbound traffic than northbound. UHP knows the where the money is. Drugs flow north, cash flows south.
I forgot to state that I live in DUNCAN, SOUTH CAROLINA! They named all my ASSETS on their SEARCH WARRANT, so the so called VICTIM would have a list of all my property assets!! MALICIOUS PROSECUTION VICTIM!! I need help!!!
This is a great youtube page you have here. You've enlightened me on so many issues and answered so many questions I didn't even know I needed answers to so thank you sir.
I did a quick search on the Google (hardly research), and only two TWO states have banned civil asset forfeiture. New Mexico and Nebraska. Kansas (my state) recently started making LEOs track forfeiture spending this year. That's INSANE!
*You are absolutely right on this.*
This is flat-out criminal activity perpetrated by law enforcement, and it is not the only example of the police confiscating property without due process. I had this happen to me in regard to confiscation of my guns a few years back, even though I was never convicted of a crime(accused, not convicted). I was told I had to file an Aricle 78(NYS) with the NYS Supreme Court to get them back. $2000 to hire an atty for this. The real criminals arent the ones stealing tv's and credit cards. The real criminals are sometimes wearing guns and police uniforms. They know damned well what they are doing.
Where in New York State do you Live. In New York City? Guns are effectively except for the Police,;a few lucky and probably powerful people who have gun permits; and Criminals
well it is not criminal by law, it is just simply unfair and perhaps unconstitutional
Planes and Bikes
"Legalized" stealing is still criminal.
HoldenNY22
Gun laws for NY City don't apply in the rest of NYS. Plenty of gun owners in NY.
They should be prosecuted under RICO law from the top to the bottom and they should be punished to the max
Crimnals are not born they are made. Civil forfeiture creates the deepest resentments. Cant see how we respect for the police when they abuse their authority.
Mr. Scoops the United Nations will rescue us!
It's basically legal armed robbery....
Yes, in fact police seize more assets than all burglaries each year.
The most wrong thing about this law is that it turns the whole innocent until proven guilty thing to mean absolutely nothing. And I agree with you this is total highway robbery and what little justification there is is wiped out by the massive Injustice of it.
And remember that old saying about it's better to let 10 guilty men go free than to imprison 1 who's innocent? That's a load of BS as well.
"No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property WITHOUT DUE PROCESS OF LAW."
Some cop having a vague, unspecified hunch is not enough "due process" to empty my wallet on the side of the road.
Unbelievable, well if you ever see a high speed chase in western PA involving a white camaro they tried to rob me lol.
you totally forgetting the I 40 corridor through Oklahoma and Tennessee they even take money off cards and out of bank accounts been doing it for the last 10 years or so
@@Bozemanjustin I heard about this. They can drain a debit card but not a credit card. Probably best to leave the debit car at home when driving through that area.
I am glad you posted the article. Thank you for this service. Sharing all over the place.
The thumbnail terrified me, and I ran away before starting the video.
It'll make more sense tomorrow. Hang in there.
Whether you get fleeced by a cop in Mexico or one in the US for whatever reason, the end result is the same: you've been had.
I live in Greenville, South Carolina and I have followed CAF accounts all over the US and have read so many horror stories of totally innocent victims of this legalized « color-of-law» armed robbery.
This is happening to me now!! I was falsely arrested with a gun charge, so they could enter my house illegally and rob me of over $10k. In jewelry and 5k. In cash!
Its outrageous!!! I’m sure it’s ruined many innocent people!
@Steve Lehto.
The civil asset forfeiture is a case of the slippery slope. It started long ago when police departments began receiving less and less funding from the municipality, county and states, forcing departments to find new and additional ways to fund their department operations. The first way they found were writing tickets. The entire reason you heard of departments having "ticket quota's" is because it was used as a means to get those additional funds for the department. This led from officers merely writing more tickets to officers writing tickets based on false pretenses, ie, claiming you were speeding when you weren't.
The civil asset forfeiture started as a means to combat drug operations. Not only were drugs seized, but, cash and property. When police departments realized that they could make huge amounts of money from these seizures, large departments began focusing on drug enforcement operations. This filtered down to the smaller departments, as well. Once it was firmly established that law enforcement could seize assets without any repercussions, the door was kicked wide open, as you see. Law enforcement began applying the concept of asset forfeiture to the citizen during traffic stops.
Are there cops who don't know about it? Sure. Not every single department is using asset forfeiture as a means to fund the department. Many do, however. And yes, it is nothing more than a legal means to steal from the citizen. More and more are doing it, however, as there are literally zero consequences to the department or officers for seizing cash or assets, even on pretenses proven to be false. Worse, many of the corrupt departments target the poorer citizens knowing they don't have the means or resources to fight a prolonged court battle to recover the money or property. And, even worse than that, people travelling are targeted at an even higher rate as fighting a court battle in a different area or state is an even higher cost to the individual.
Never, EVER, travel with cash. And this is coming from a former law enforcement officer.
Government now assumes that anyone who carries cash is a criminal. Lesson learned, never carry more than $100 in cash while driving. If you do need to carry large amounts of cash, always hide it somewhere in the car. Never tell the police you have large amounts of cash...
OK but how does somebody pay for stuff if he doesn't have a credit card or checkbook. A big grocery bill for a large family could be $300.
everyday small business plus {voluntary clubs that hold benefits etc} carry large amount of cash. either on site or to banks. some, probably most small business people buy goods with cash. I know some who paid cash for a new car. So what I am hearing is, if they get stopped for traffic violation and cash that is on them or in car can be taken. WTF
And police wonder why the gap between them and the public is so large.
TH3 ROWDY SIX well it's not the Police officer that is bad, it's the corrupt Mayors and DAs political hacks.
@@bennybandido police carry out the orders without question. They give law power.
@@bennybandido It's probably in the State's law.
What amazing "logic" by law enforcement. You are in a traffic stop and have money on you; the cops say they think that money was obtained during illegal activity and they are going to seize it. They are not going to investigate the supposed illegal activity; but, keep the money and let you go. So, if you did get it illegally, you are free to go and commit more crimes. If not, the burden is on you to prove it was obtained legally. They take $5000 from you and it costs you that much to get it back. I can understand seizure in an arrest and if the person is guilty then possible forfeiture depending on the crime and if the money is relevant to the crime. This is just tossing out due process and allowing racketeering.
Someone should make a movie about this. They could call it 'Money, Boats, and Margarita Machines' (A particular police department actually once used money taken in civil asset forfeiture to purchase a margarita machine.)
The bottom line here is, everyone arrested/ stopped is assumed guilty not innocent until Proven guilty. Why? if they {say} this is the law, that we all have to pay bondsman, attorney's, etc which is throwing money in a never ending hole to regain our presumption of innocent rights? Answer: We the people a not a member of their 'club', and we have to pay {them}!
this happened to me on a highway going through a small town in Northern California. They fucked me up bad and tried to take everything. In the end after putting me through hell for over a year, I got all my stuff back and all charges dropped. Guess what, I never got all my stuff back in the end, they kept delaying and delaying and eventually I was like fuck it, i was glad that my freedom wasn't in jeopardy and moved on without my electronics. It's really crazy shit, I had to drive for 18 hours both ways to get to my court hearings probably 1-2 times a month until they dropped the charges on month 14. Up until this point I had never heard of civil asset forfeiture, I found out quick online what the scam was.
Some states try to prevent the incentives. Missouri, for example, requires a conviction or guilty plea and any profits from civil asset forfeiture go to the school system instead of police. It sounds good but when the police find sizable amounts of money, or a nice car etc., they call the DEA or some other federal agency. The feds do the confiscation and kick back a sizable portion of the money to the police agency, effectively bypassing the state's intentions for the use of the money.
Thanks for the video! I was going to start travelling down to South Carolina with cash in hand to buy vintage cars and trailer them back. You probably just saved me from getting robbed by corrupt thugs in costumes, I'll spend my money in some other State's economy to purchase my vehicles. I will avoid even travelling through South Carolina. The gas stations, restaurants, and hotels all lose! Theses thugs in costumes are stealing from them also with this criminal behavior.
This has been going on for quite a while now and should scare everyone as in our republic there's supposed to be a presumption of innocence until proven guilty.