Civil Asset Forfeiture Is Wicked
BY Herschel Smith
3 years, 3 months ago
The Nevada trooper first told Stephen Lara the highway patrol was educating drivers “about violations they may not realize they’re committing” and that he’d been pulled over for following a tanker truck a bit too closely. After some small talk, the trooper admitted an ulterior purpose: stopping the smuggling of illegal drugs, weapons and currency as they crossed the state.
Lara — a former Marine who says he was on his way to visit his daughters in Northern California — insisted he was doing none of those things, though he readily admitted he had “a lot” of cash in his car. As he stood on the side of the road, police searched the vehicle, pulling nearly $87,000 in a zip-top bag from Lara’s trunk and insisting a drug-sniffing dog had detected something on the cash.
Police found no drugs, and Lara, 39, was charged with no crimes. But police nonetheless left with his money, calling a Drug Enforcement Administration agent to coordinate a process known as “adoption,” which allows federal authorities to seize cash or property they suspect is connected to criminal activity — without levying criminal charges.
“I left there confused. I left there angry,” Lara said in an interview with The Washington Post. “And I could not believe that I had just been literally robbed on the side of the road by people with badges and guns.”
You can believe it. It happens all over America, every day. They confiscate whatever they want and buy guns, ammunition, body armor, expensive Dodge Chargers, and other toys to keep them occupied.
And all over America, they’ll come for you if you use a firearm to defend yourself, which they stand and allow Antifa to assault people with impunity.
Now people are learning that they are thieves too. This is no different than a carjacker stealing your vehicle, or someone breaking into your home to burglarize it.
Honestly, cops are beginning to wonder why people hate them. Why should they wonder?
Oh, and also remember that the awful Jeff Sessions highly favored civil asset forfeiture laws and spoke on their behalf.
On September 1, 2021 at 11:07 pm, George 1 said:
Literal highway robbery. I know of a case a few years ago of a man stopped on his way home to Idaho by the Oregon State Police. Same scenario. A significant sum of cash he had was taken from him. He showed the police a receipt showing he had won the money in one of the gambling establishments in Nevada but no matter, the currency was still confiscated.
I think the man eventually got his money back. No doubt after a lengthy and expensive legal process.
“A drug sniffing dog had detected something on the cash”. That can be a scam as well. I had a friend who was a dog handler who told me dishonest cops can always get a dog to alert on something if they want them to.
On September 2, 2021 at 4:41 am, Show Me said:
It also serves the larger purpose of the war on cash. Two birds, one stone. All evil.
On September 2, 2021 at 4:45 am, Ohio Guy said:
Happened to a friend of mine a few weeks ago while driving thru Tennessee. Got him for $76k. No charges. Same old story. This really does happen. How long are people gonna put up with this? Do the cops have a device that can detect the strips on larger bills? Me thinks so.
On September 2, 2021 at 6:15 am, Ruck Norris said:
I call ‘em Road Pirates.
On September 2, 2021 at 6:20 am, Bert said:
It is good the average citizen gets exposed to these crooked affairs.
Breaking down their bias and letting them see the truth of the world.
I only wish more could experience the wonder our country has become.
On September 2, 2021 at 6:44 am, Whynot said:
Mid-80s? 60 minutes or 20/20?? Reporter talking to south Louisiana trooper on “drug cash”. Reporter asked if there’s any chance of “contaminated money.” The trooper said no. On camera, the reporter asked if the trooper had any cash and could they test it. He had several bills that were positive for cocaine. Interview over.
The reporter went to a bank and asked them how much of our money supply ($20 and $100 bills mostly) would show positive for cocaine? The bank representative said up to 50% of the $100 bills and at least a third of the $20 bills. All because a cocaine- positive bill lays in the cash drawer passing off traces to the bill above and below it.
Be interesting to see what the percentages are now..
On September 2, 2021 at 7:09 am, Chris Mallory said:
OG, was your friend driving West on I-40? The Tennessee cops target west bound traffic with out of state plates. They say the west bound traffic is more likely carrying cash where the east bound traffic has drugs. Very telling they would rather stop the cash rather than the drugs. Every year there are a few news stories about it.
On September 2, 2021 at 8:03 am, Fred said:
Proverbs 24:15
And Ohio Guy asks the right question, how do they know. It’s NOT random selection, no way.
On September 2, 2021 at 8:04 am, Okanogan Offgrid said:
Enforcers in this country commit that kind of theft all the time. I would never trust someone wearing a costume with the magic badge.
In my book, even Military Veterans who put on that costume deserve absolutely NO respect. Yes, I am a six year Army Vet myself.
On September 2, 2021 at 12:00 pm, MTHead said:
I remember Helper, Utah tried to pass a law where the police officer got 20% of the theft!
Highway robbery indeed!
My wife was a police secretary. Use to get informed of all the cops that got shot in the south.(lots).
Now we know.
On September 2, 2021 at 1:26 pm, RCW said:
In the U.S and elsewhere during the 1700-1800s, there were highwaymen who extracted their tolls by robbery and murder; history repeats and much that is old is now (will be) new again.
On September 2, 2021 at 1:41 pm, Fred said:
In Luke 10:30-37, Jesus relates the parable of the good Samaritan. There is a reason Jesus used this analogy, the story of the highwaymen is as common as it is old.
On September 3, 2021 at 12:11 pm, Ohio Guy said:
@ Chris Mallory: Yes, it was west bound. Your comment is correct on all counts.