Another Example of America Becoming Less American

[Colorado Luckydog]

Do NOT let this thread degrade into a cop bashing thread or it will be closed and probably removed.

No need to bash the the cops? The story speaks for itself very very clearly.

[bobbyfairbanks]

Do NOT let this thread degrade into a cop bashing thread or it will be closed and probably removed.

I understand not bashing all cops or better said Peace officers; but these law enforcement officers deserved to be bashed. Just look at what they are doing.

[mutt]

Dont bitch at the gumshoe on the street.
Raise hell with the folks that write and pass these laws.

While I agree a big part of the problem is legislatures overstepping their bounds, the gumshoe on the street is not without complicity in this. They help enable this behavior by enforcing what are unconstitutional seizures of property. Just following orders is not an absolution of guilt.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

The police have a duty to uphold our rights rather than to act as a willing agent of a corrupt government. Of course they aren't alone in this crime. The People are the most guilty in this whole thing. They're the ones who tolerate this kind of abuse. They're the complacent sheep who want government to 'protect' them and so allow these abuses to happen. They have the power, by vote or force, to stop this and they chose not to. They deserve everything they get as a result.

[SAnd]

I would like to know why people are giving up their money to the cops. no way in hell would I let them steal my cash from me. give me a ticket...fine, but stealing my money...that is a whole new ballgame.

How would you stop them?

[Irving]

Those police officers making up lies to pull people over is a direct result of poorly written laws, is that what I'm to believe? There is a video of a guy NOT leaving his lane of travel. He gets pulled over for leaving his lane of travel. Damn those anti-organized crime seizure laws. Damn them to hell.

[KevDen2005]

It appears from the video that in this particular task force there was one individual supervisor lying about his stops, which he should be disciplined for, he is part of the problem.

As for the other officers stopping for money, they don't get to keep it. Someone in their chain of command has told them if they want to keep their jobs, get assignments they want, get things they want out of their job, they better get the money

[Irving]

Cstone, for the record, I want you to know that I knew you (or someone) would bring up the point you made, and I do agree with it, but only to a point. These laws are being abused to fund those local agencies. When a specific department reaches the point that they need to shake down citizens and steal their money just to keep their job, it's pretty clear that losing jobs would be the better alternative. My friend Thomas has pointed out a similar situation with certain Colorado Springs departments spending money to hire motorcycle police, whose only real use is shaking down travelers for money during traffic stops. Can't fight much crime from a bike.

Kevin: This isn't anything new. Small towns in the south have been known for doing this for years and years. Didn't some small town in Texas just get into trouble over doing this a few years ago?

Where is OneGuy67 to come in here and remind us that he can't speak for any other state but ours? As far as I know, this isn't very common in our state, which I'm glad for. However, I don't have out of state plates, so maybe I wouldn't know.

In an effort to make this a worth while thread, what is the best way to combat against this kind of thing? Sure, you can rig up a camera in your car for your road trip and sue later, but what about a way to not have your car illegally searched?

[SA Friday]

Well, not all LE do seizures. All money taken as evidence for my agency when I was a fed went directly back to the owner at the end of the investigation or directly back to the treasury department if shown to derive from something like drug deals or fencing etc. We returned all other types of evidence back to owners or destroyed it depending on the circumstances and legal advise. all evidence including money had documented disposition based off of legal advice. the JA had to approve it and sometimes even the judge depending on the evidence. Nothing went to DRMO to be sold for reclamation.

Every penny of our salary and expenses was supported solely through your tax dollars, and we were paid and supported well.

Besides, everyone drives around with $20k cash in the spare tire in the trunk. Nothing suspicious about that at all.

Were there follow-up investigations into the suspicious activities with these money seizures? If so, where did they lead and what was the resolution of the investigations? Is there any viable intel from the seizures leading to impact to known drug cartels? Was any of the intel from seizures actionable or utilized by secondary police forces, local in other jurisdictions or federally? Just how many actual seizures were fought in court and found to be erroneous? What were the standard amounts for seizure vs 'have a nice day'? Lots of unanswered questions in that amazing piece of journalism.

[ldmaster]

Ooooh, late 80's (geez)...

Had a layover in Miami, got a rental car and headed north - was going to S. Carolina - had two days off on per diem, it was a convertible.

About 30 min outside of Miami on I95, I get pulled over.

Cop didn't tell me why he pulled me over. At some point he asks if he can search the car. I say no.

Then the "what do you have to hide" speech, etc... Just made me dig in deeper. One thing I had was TIME.

Three hours later, and a dog search, they say I'm free to go. When he asked why I made them search - I was astonished....

MADE them search?

Intimidation and bullying are becoming too common. Hidden behind the "if you have nothing to hide" speeches that nearly all cops use, it makes you out to be a criminal to insist on your constitutional rights.

He parted with the comment, "Oh, you're one of THOSE people..."

It's been going on for some time, it's not new.

Every new law enforcement "tool" that is sworn will NEVER lead to abuses - always leads to abuses.

[SA Friday]

Ya, I can tell by all your posts, you would never incite a cop to the point of them wanting to mess around with you. I bet you weren't even close to fitting a drug runners profile in the 80s running up 95 in a convertible rental out of Miami either...