Florida cops are taking tons of people's property!
By Thom Hartmann A...
The ACLU wants Florida cops to stop seizing people's personal property. In a recent press release, the civil rights group is calling on the Florida Legislature to address that state's out-of-control civil asset forfeiture practices.
According to a stunning new report from the Florida Legislature Office of Program policy Analysis and Government Accountability, only 16% of individuals ever challenge an asset seizure, and only about 1 percent ever get the benefit of a full trial before their possessions are taken.
In fact, there are so many asset forfeitures that the sale of them accounts for more than 2 percent of police agencies operating budget. As bad as these facts are, these statistics could be masking an even larger problem because it is voluntary for Florida police departments to report civil asset forfeitures – and half didn't bother to participate in the recent study.
The ACLU said, “Now that OPPAGA's report has documented how often Florida's police agencies are seizing personal property, it is time for the legislature, which commissioned the report, to take action to bring an end to abuse of the system.”
Comments
#2
I wonder if the recent increase in the theft of POLICE CARS(!) might be retaliation for the civil forfeiture laws. How the heck did legalized theft by law enforcement personnel come about in this country?
#3
What do I think. Well I think as the collapse of citizenship escalates, and more and more of the responsibility incumbent on the citizen is passed on to the "governments" care and maintenance, then the concern for siezure of private property is a mute issue. Takings will be necessary to fund the collapsing basis to the economy that once could generate the taxes necessary to fund the public sector. You can think of it as the natural progression of the public sectors purpose to fulfill the wishes of the community........and becasue they "work so hard at it", breaking a sweat continuously as they toil hour after hour, day after day, month after month, maybe even year after year, the search for ever more "booty" to sustain the progression..........well it is obvious. As Plato explained, it just can not work out well when you put the government employee in charge of the purse strings determining how public funds are dispersed, now can it. But, of course, all this is at their peril........fundamentally they are essentially stealing, and at bottom they are stealing money, which further devalues, or clarifies the relative worth of the money. This is especially distructive when the value assigned to the money is being defined by the very same crew that is printing it, so to speak. Of course, we are already well past the point where those that print the money can actually do so, in fact, the paper and ink necessary are beyond the reach of the current finances of the existing regime. Thus, as the money value declines, then it is necessary to steal even more just to maintaing parity..........sort of a downward spiral into a state that not only has no funding, but it can not be funded at any level...........since those that define the value of the money no longer assign any meaningful value to it..........hi ho hi ho its off to steal we go........but then this is old news, very old news. Although I must admit it has become so glaringly obvious I marvel at the thing, i.e. "the State", still continuing as it does. I think you can say they have managed to reach bottom when you see government takings of say usable human tissues, necessary to sustain the individuals that government deems most vital to the security of the nation, either by consumption or open market sale. Thats what I think. What do you think?
#4
False Flag policies have been the practice of our Govvernment for some time.
It has been clear for several years that The people have lost control of Congress due to the campaign contribution laws approved by the Supreme Court. As this corruption grows into absolute power it corrupts absolutely.
You can talk all you wish about it but it will not be listened to by Congress,. The fed rakes care of the budget deficit for Congress so they do not have to increase your and my taxes, which would get them a lost election next reelection.
"Terrorism Is The Best Political Weapon For Nothing Drives People Harder Than A Fear Of Sudden Death" Adolf Hitler"
http://seekingalpha.com/instablog/25783813-peter-palms/4595906-terrorism...
#5
When the police AND banks are the robbers, we have a SERIOUS PROBLEM in this country. I've been outraged by this issue for literally decades already and am at a loss as to what to say or do about it... other than resorting to violence. When all else fails...
Reply to #4: campaign contribution laws (so-called "Citizens United") is indeed a major factor in citizens' loss of any substantive influence over Congress. However when they don't bother to vote in the midterms, it exacerbates the problem that much more.
#6
Quote stecoop01:I wonder if the recent increase in the theft of POLICE CARS(!) might be retaliation for the civil forfeiture laws. How the heck did legalized theft by law enforcement personnel come about in this country?
This whole problem evolved because of the War on Drugs. Somehow, the right managed to sell the idea that it was wrong for people to profit off of drug sales. They created the idea of drug dealers driving expensive cars and living in homes they bought with cash. Of course, there was already a mechanism in place to tip off authorities if anyone was purchasing expensive goods with cash. Nevertheless, this wasn't enough. Ill gotten assets needed to be seized; and, it had to happen quickly, legally, and easy. Somehow, at the root of this illegal, unConstitutional notion, it was worked in that the accused never had to be convicted of doing anything wrong in order for the assets to be 'considered guilty.' Assets are 'considered guilty' upon 'suspicion' only. It's quite amazing how that really works. We've had a well known drug house in our neighborhood now for 8 years. In that time, several times, the police have raided the place and seized drugs. Once, someone was shot there. Still, the people continue to live there. Their cars and assets are not confiscated. They are back on the streets within days and the house is back in business as usual within a week. Of course I live in California. Perhaps it is different from state to state. Or, perhaps drugs isn't what some officials are really targeting. Perhaps 'drugs' are merely a pretense to commit a worse act of crime. Regardless, taking someone's property for any reason is theft. It a is clear violation of Constitutional rights. It is a problem that sorely needs to be attended to and reckoned with.
#7
Thank you for the info, DeAnneMarc; it looks like the "war on drugs" continues to broaden the collateral damage, taking out far more "friendlies" than "enemies".
#8
I haven't heard of any increase in police car theft, stecoop01, but your hypothesis depends on either 1) some organization teaching widely scattered people to do the same thing without being noticed, or 2) those people independently reacting to the same situation in the same way at about the same time.
#9
What gets me is the sheer irony of this. As Marc has pointed out: “Somehow the right managed to sell the idea that it was wrong for people to profit off of drug sales.” Yet they’re perfectly fine with life-saving medications priced out of reach of most people. I don’t know about you but I find this crazy-making.
#10
mathboy - I was being facetious, however, this year there have been 4 police cruisers stolen in Indiana - three in Indianapolis and one in Fort Wayne(?). According to local news media, that's at least a 300% increase over previous years. I'm just hoping the thieves were victims of civil forfeiture laws.
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