Stop and seize: Aggressive police take hundreds of millions of dollars

[decocker 7,198]

what's yours is yours, long as you can prove it.

• There have been 61,998 cash seizures made on highways and elsewhere since 9/11 without search warrants or indictments through the Equitable Sharing Program, totaling more than $2.5 billion. State and local authorities kept more than $1.7 billion of that while Justice, Homeland Security and other federal agencies received $800 million. Half of the seizures were below $8,800.
• Only a sixth of the seizures were legally challenged, in part because of the costs of legal action against the government. But in 41 percent of cases — 4,455 — where there was a challenge, the government agreed to return money. The appeals process took more than a year in 40 percent of those cases and often required owners of the cash to sign agreements not to sue police over the seizures.
• Hundreds of state and local departments and drug task forces appear to rely on seized cash, despite a federal ban on the money to pay salaries or otherwise support budgets. The Post found that 298 departments and 210 task forces have seized the equivalent of 20 percent or more of their annual budgets since 2008.
• Agencies with police known to be participating in the Black Asphalt intelligence network have seen a 32 percent jump in seizures beginning in 2005, three times the rate of other police departments. Desert Snow-trained officers reported more than $427 million in cash seizures during highway stops in just one five-year period, according to company officials. More than 25,000 police have belonged to Black Asphalt, company officials said.
• State law enforcement officials in Iowa and Kansas prohibited the use of the Black Asphalt network because of concerns that it might not be a legal law enforcement tool. A federal prosecutor in Nebraska warned that Black Asphalt reports could violate laws governing civil liberties, the handling of sensitive law enforcement information and the disclosure of pretrial information to defendants. But officials at Justice and Homeland Security continued to use it.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/investigative/2014/09/06/stop-and-seize/?hpid=z8

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

what's yours is yours, long as you can prove it.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/investigative/2014/09/06/stop-and-seize/?hpid=z8

I wish the police would try and take my 5$. That's a fight they don't want to be a part of.

[GBCW 397]

"Equitable Sharing Program", that sounds so socialist.

[decocker 7,198]

I wish the police would try and take my 5$. That's a fight they don't want to be a part of.

keep this in mind then..

Only a sixth of the seizures were legally challenged, in part because of the costs of legal action against the government. But in 41 percent of cases — 4,455 — where there was a challenge, the government agreed to return money.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

keep this in mind then..

Shady bums. The lot of them!

Sorry, was playing with some mates that live in the U.K., their lingo must have rubbed off on me.

[Karee 4,189]

The cops need that money to buy tanks and other military grade weapons. I don't know about everyone else, but I feel safer knowing that my 20 man police dept. has a tank, in case the crazies in the next town over attack us with their tank.

[decocker 7,198]

The cops need that money to buy tanks and other military grade weapons. I don't know about everyone else, but I feel safer knowing that my 20 man police dept. has a tank, in case the crazies in the next town over attack us with their tank.

not even that so much as they're using the seizures to pay salaries. imagine cops seizing for their salary :/

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I wish the police would try and take my 5$. That's a fight they don't want to be a part of.

62K seizures totaling $2.5 billion - that's not taking $5.00 - that's taking $40K a pop. I don't usually run around with that kind of cash on me. How 'bout you?

[decocker 7,198]

62K seizures totaling $2.5 billion - that's not taking $5.00 - that's taking $40K a pop. I don't usually run around with that kind of cash on me. How 'bout you?

does it matter how much cash you keep on your person if you're not being charged with a crime?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

does it matter how much cash you keep on your person if you're not being charged with a crime?

There should be due process, no doubt. I was just pointing out that they're not seizing someone's lunch money.

[decocker 7,198]

There should be due process, no doubt. I was just pointing out that they're not seizing someone's lunch money.

maybe they are taking someone's lunch money, point is - if cops aren't charging a person with something they have no right to what's in their pockets.

also, this is only what cops are reporting.

[eieio 1,594]

point is - if cops aren't charging a person with something they have no right to what's in their pockets.

You do realize they are seizing money along with convicting them with something?

Not sure if you even understand the topic you posted.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

You do realize they are seizing money along with convicting them with something?

Not sure if you even understand the topic you posted.

It would behoove you to click on the link in the OP and study the material provided there before making such statements. As of right now, it is you that quite obviously doesn't have a firm grasp on the subject matter.

Edited September 15, 2014 by Mr. Big Dog

[Darnell 8,478]

I wish the police would try and take my 5$. That's a fight they don't want to be a part of.

Brother - you not have to hide it in that cavity, anymore,

so

don't be worrying about the strip-search and cavity evacuation...

It's perfectly acceptable to keep it in your wallet these days.

Unless, of course, you prefer cavity evacuations, the rough sort.....

[just saying]

[Sousuke 1,214]

You do realize they are seizing money along with convicting them with something?

Not sure if you even understand the topic you posted.

There have been a few stories on the topic. Many people are never charged after their money is stolen. And it is stolen.