Another Example of America Becoming Less American

[Ranger]

Police states...


I have no idea how to post the actual youtube video - can someone school me on this? [ Got ya covered - Ginsue]

[TS12000]

Click the "wrap youtube tags" button, then place the info after the = sign on the link between them

[theGinsue]

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

[Irving]

Whose to blame for this behavior then? The travelers? Department of Transportation?

[Guylee]

I can't watch it on the computer here at work so...my contribution is fluffy puppies.

[Rust_shackleford]

Sunshine, lollipops and rainbows,
Everything that's wonderful is what I feel when we're together,
Brighter than a lucky penny,
When you're near the rain cloud disappears, dear,
And I feel so fine just to know that you are mine.

[sniper7]

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.

[BPTactical]

Home Run CStone!


I am in agreement with Irving to a point. I dont think this is worthy of a "Cop Bashing" but it is open game for "Legislation Bashing" session. These "Civil Forfeture" laws are nothing more than government sponsored theft.
Denver for instance-peoples property seized and then even on aquittal or dropping of charges they still have to pay impound fees and storage.

Anymore it does seem that some agencies are being used as revenue generating machines than to "Serve and Protect".
I don't blame the officer on the street, they for the most part are doing as their superiors have directed them to do. I do have a problem with the fact of being pulled over for no other reason than having out of state plates.
"Do you have papers to be traveling in this state, Komrade?" coming soon?
And then to seize personal property when there is no evidence that a crime has been committed is Draconian to say the least.
Dont bitch at the gumshoe on the street.
Raise hell with the folks that write and pass these laws.

[cstone]

Whose to blame for this behavior then? The travelers? Department of Transportation?

Who writes and interprets the laws of asset forfeiture?

It has never made sense to me but here is my best but limited explanation. Property in these cases is treated like a person who has committed a crime. It is seized and charged in court and unless the owner comes and defends their right to possess the property, it is converted into the property of the government that seized it. There are rules for how the government divides the money and how it can be used. The largest portion of the property normally is converted for the use of the agency that seized the property.

Originally the laws were established to combat large scale narcotics trafficking and organized crime. Those laws are used for all kinds of crimes now, depending on how the federal, state, and local legislatures write their asset forfeiture laws.

I understand the original intent behind asset forfeiture, however, the way it is practiced now in many jurisdictions makes my skin crawl. If you are a local sheriff with a tight budget, you don't have to tell your deputies what will happen if they don't make seizures. They know, and they will do what they need to, to keep their jobs and feed their families.

So the choices for many communities seems to be; fewer government services, higher taxes, or asset forfeiture. Our elected officials choose based on what they believe will get them re-elected (otherwise known as what the people want).

Just my $.02

[mcantar18c]

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

I'm the first one to write an asshat off for general cop bashing. I have more than a few friends and a soon-to-be stepdad on the force who are all great officers, and through them I know a good number of the Douglass, JeffCo, and Arapahoe county officers who seem to understand and appreciate, and not abuse, their role as well. I agree with the "no general cop bashing" rule of the thread/forum.
That said, the department in question seems to be fully deserving of any and all bashing heading their way.

Whose to blame for this behavior then? The travelers? Department of Transportation?

Who writes and interprets the laws of asset forfeiture?

It has never made sense to me but here is my best but limited explanation. Property in these cases is treated like a person who has committed a crime. It is seized and charged in court and unless the owner comes and defends their right to possess the property, it is converted into the property of the government that seized it. There are rules for how the government divides the money and how it can be used. The largest portion of the property normally is converted for the use of the agency that seized the property.

Originally the laws were established to combat large scale narcotics trafficking and organized crime. Those laws are used for all kinds of crimes now, depending on how the federal, state, and local legislatures write their asset forfeiture laws.

I understand the original intent behind asset forfeiture, however, the way it is practiced now in many jurisdictions makes my skin crawl. If you are a local sheriff with a tight budget, you don't have to tell your deputies what will happen if they don't make seizures. They know, and they will do what they need to, to keep their jobs and feed their families.

So the choices for many communities seems to be; fewer government services, higher taxes, or asset forfeiture. Our elected officials choose based on what they believe will get them re-elected (otherwise known as what the people want).

Just my $.02

The reason for these laws is justified IMO, and the lawmakers hold no blame for the abuse of said laws. Those who do abuse these laws, either by taking advantage of them like the TF supervisor making stop with no legit point of contact, or by the officers and that DA looking the other way and violating the Constitutional rights of citizens with the excuse of "just doing what they're told," are responsible for their own actions.
I understand how scarce jobs are in our economy, and the need to provide for your family, but these officers are making the conscious decision to turn a blind eye to their supervisor and violate these citizens' rights, and NEED to be held responsible for their actions. By turning down offers/requests to serve on this task force, putting in transfers to other departments, quitting, etc. they aren't violating anything... this isn't the military, they have a choice, they're allowed to say "no."
I've heard from a lot of people that the dept. over by University and Belview is very strict with their stops and rarely give warnings because they need the revenue. Regardless of this being true or not, they're making legit stops and not taking advantage of anything/anyone, so I have no problem with this. But taking advantage of legislation for the sake of making money is something that we need to stop somehow, and those who do NEED to be held responsible for their own conscious actions.
Ginsue, I apologize if you see this as cop bashing and if you'd like to swing that ban hammer you're welcome to do so.