This is absolutely happening. I am a retired Army officer who has never been arrested let alone convicted of a crime. Several years ago my youngest son was in a bad place financially and could not afford to keep a car. I let him use one of my cars, essentially full time, but never gave him the car or changed the title, etc. He was stopped by a local police department and found to have marijuana in his pocket and they arrested him. He called me from the squad car and asked me to come get the car. I went to the scene and asked to be allowed to take MY CAR home. The senior officer on the scene asked him who owned the car in question and I answered that I owned it. But then I foolishly mentioned that I was letting him use it full time until he was back on his feet financially. They said that they were seizing the car so that they could search it. After several days of me trying to get the car, they informed me that the car was being kept under the civil forfeiture rules, alleging that I said that my son owned the car (a total lie, and easy to show that the car was titled in my name). I had to hire an attorney and sue this police department. Four months later the case was heard before a judge who immediately directed the police to release the car to me. He also admonished the police department for what he said was a totally improper and illegal seizure. I still had to pay a fee to that police department to get my car released ($250) and another fee to the private impounding lot where they took the car ($500) in addition to the $2,000 paid to the attorney. At this hearing, my attorney tried to get the judge to direct the law breaking police department to pay his fee and all of the costs that I was stuck with, but the judge would not do so. This problem is real and has changed my entire attitude toward cooperation and support of law enforcement.
@lolbr3720
5 жыл бұрын
yes sir, we are not in Kansas anymore...
@SirWrecksy
5 жыл бұрын
assholes!
@davidhoward7382
5 жыл бұрын
@Jakob Jones I think you have gone off the deep end, I'm afraid. There are problems with how the police operate some programs. There are certainly less than perfect hospitals, and churches. But your view is clearly delusional and paranoid. Get help while you can.
@freebirdnation923
9 ай бұрын
First mistake is hiring a attorney.
@jackwood8307
5 жыл бұрын
There is a little town in south Alabama (Catleberry)that is infamous for this style of thievery. Its on a road going to Florida so a lot of out of towners and staters. They preyed on these folks and knew that theres little chance that they will challenge them in court. It’s a town with around 500 residents and they built their police dept up to have more cops and equipment than towns 10 times their size. Even got their own judge and prosecutor to manage the stealing. They not only used CAF they utilized speed traps also. This was not something that just happened, they hired an outside police chief who specialized in this and he set it up for them. This was nothing less than a criminal enterprise operating under the guise of law.
@JDseller1
5 жыл бұрын
I first heard about this 20 plus years ago. A fellow that traveled to Florida every year to buy starts (small plants) from smaller green houses. He then shipped the plants north and finished growing them and resold them. He was stopped in an airport and his cash taken. It was like $10K. It took him years to get it back. I was living in Cinn.,OH. then and IRC he was a local to there. I used to have great respect for law enforcement officers. As I have gotten older that has just about flipped 100%. The moral quality of the average officer is about the same as the criminal they are dealing with on a regular basis. The more local the level the worse it is. Small towns and county Sheriffs being the worse. It is not just civil forfeiture. Look at DUI case and see how those are major MONEY makers for the courts and LEOs. Also insurance companies love it too as they can charge out the nose for years after a DUI. Funny thing here is I do not drink and I think they have gone over board.
@Amyjo_lovesmusic
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you for making this video and shining a light on this subject. It is amazing that in this day things like this are going on.
@carpenterfamily6198
5 жыл бұрын
Cops . . . are you getting this ? This practice puts you at risk and on the bad side of honest Americans. That’s not a good place to be.
@rationalbushcraft
5 жыл бұрын
I worked on the Michigan Medical Marijuana petition in 2008 and have been active as a cannabis advocate since (though I was not involved with the latest adult use campaign). Even today there are people who are raided who have their cards. Everything they own of value is taken and because they have cards they are never charged. Oakland Sheriff was driving a Mustang home every night that they confiscated. This is one big reason that the cops fight cannabis legalization is it takes away some of the justification for stealing peoples property. See the Viceland report on the couple here in Michigan who were raided. The cops went through the 8 year old kids birthday cards and took the money out of them and kept it. I can't think of anything worse than stealing from a kid. These cops have no business being cops as they are horrible human beings.
@boggy7665
5 жыл бұрын
Thought of doing tourist road trips, but this is one thing that keeps me home.
@kbjcda
5 жыл бұрын
Officer: "Sir, are you carrying any cash today?" You: "No, sir" . And then shut up :-) But you're right, it is a real problem that needs to be fixed.
@jtandme-ot9cl
5 жыл бұрын
Winning my case to get MY MONEY back should require the one being sued to pay all my attorney fees plus court costs!
@russellhowell9854
5 жыл бұрын
You damn right! And, then hold them liable for all that they put you through including jail time for those officers!
@soulcrusher0357
3 жыл бұрын
I live in Spartanburg SC. Usually once a year they bring in multiple police agencies to help conduct what they call "operation rolling thunder" which takes place on interstate 85. They pull over and search hundreds of travelers. When that's going on I avoid the interstate at all cost. I think it's unconstitutional and needs to stop.
@youtubehatesfreedom1870
3 жыл бұрын
Every pig involved in this should be tossed from a helicopter from about 300 feet up in front of his family to show they are NOT heroes but complete zeroes
@DavidPennybaker
5 жыл бұрын
I've heard about this for at least 20 years. It needs to stop . . . NOW
@ledbetterjack
5 жыл бұрын
This would be a good question for politicians in every state. Do you support theft? I don't think the people of South Carolina would be very happy to lose the tourist dollars if this gets out, or maybe they would. Need to find out.
@khrfx4715
4 жыл бұрын
All the cops who are ready, willing and even EAGER to participate in these types of forfeitures are nothing, but common criminals and need to be fired.
@hojo70
5 жыл бұрын
This is precisely why police officers are regarded with the same respect as used car salesmen
@cliffbraun3850
2 жыл бұрын
Wrong, police are regarded with far less respect than a used car salesman 😜
@charlesshafer3072
2 жыл бұрын
Should be careful about labeling good cops(or UCS's) as bad guys. Flipside of that.. don't hesitate or waiver when going after the bad guys wearing white. Prosecute
@chefntoast
2 жыл бұрын
Not at all... I mean ,yes maybe from your perspective... but a criminal organization with the power to terrorize, intimidate ,rob and murder people ,with relative impunity.... they deserve much more attention, and we as sovereign people are required to inform themselves on laws/rules/regulations etc that apply to them . Having cameras in and around ones property , is a minor deterrent, but we should be armed with the knowledge of our rights, being calm and confident is easier said than done,but remaining calm,during questioning or interrogation is key ... if someone has a gun, they should inform themselves as best they can about all aspects of owning a gun, just like having a car , we need to inform ourselves on the laws,rules and regulations of operating a vehicle , home owner,marriage, business owner ,parent etc .. we have to stand up for ourselves, and stand up for each other, but we have to do it with knowledge ,patience and strength... we have allowed this system to go unchecked and unchallenged for far too long ... and it will only get worse
@TheGayestAspen
2 жыл бұрын
I trust a part time freelance used car salesman more than i trust the cops, because at least the salesman gives me a car (even if it gets repo'dl
@bassntruck
5 жыл бұрын
Friends father worked for the ATF when I was a kid. He told me they always "joked" at the end of a meeting " remember ATF means Always Think Forfeiture". And this was back in the early 90s.
@jag1963
4 жыл бұрын
As an Englishman who has moved to the U.S recently I am absolutley shocked by this license to steal. I checked Connecticut state law and it seems that only this year they passed a law stating that a conviction has to arise for them to keep the money so I feel a little safer however i would no longer carry large sums of moeny in my car thanks to your excellent advice. The wider picture here is that I have quickly developed a fear of police officers having been told by countless collegues "dont drive at night" unless you have a clear sense of where you are going or what you are doing as police officers like that!.. Say what now! This was also repeated to me by the teacher whos 8 hour class i had to sit when changing my license over from a British license to Connecticut one...What? Land of the Free? are you kidding me...I also passed my motorcycle test here as well recently and bought a motorbike for no reason other than to enjoy cruising around and taking in this very beautiful country...Until freinds told me, "dont go out at 1am in the morning on a whim for a summer ride or pretty soon you'll get stopped. I picked my jaw off the floor at this point. Is this really America now? Your Police scare me.
@watchesandcaps2566
5 жыл бұрын
This is a great youtube page you have here. You've enlightened me on so many issues and answered so many questions I didn't even know I needed answers to so thank you sir.
@JohnSmith-ld1pw
5 жыл бұрын
Thank you for using your forum to call attention to this national disgrace.
@rmoby
5 жыл бұрын
I see on So. Carolina's website that payment for auctioned assets is only allowed by cash, certified or business check one or the other no split payments . So travel to the auction and get your cash seized on your way or when you get there, ha ha.
@bigdogpete43
5 жыл бұрын
This is armed robbery.
@Rebecca-zr2zx
5 жыл бұрын
In our City this happened. A wife had just inherited $70,000 from her mother and the husband was caught stealing at his work -- they used a search warrant to look for the stolen goods and found the money -- it took her over 2 years to get this back and a lot of Newspaper articles to point out the problem... this stuff happens -- SAD...
@armandodane4588
5 жыл бұрын
Caligula pointing to his sword exclaimed, "With this, we shall never be wanting of money!"
@Meng776
2 жыл бұрын
I'm black.... it's always been a part of our experience with police. I was a teen and police claimed he smelled weed and took my $300. I went to file a complaint and they wouldn't even take the complaint.
@mikeroy9528
5 жыл бұрын
I have heard of this many times before, but when you explained it I really felt my stomach turn. If this ever happens to me I think I would have to retaliate via vigilante means.
@thebooda
5 жыл бұрын
This in it's simplicity is just plain scary. I had a knife stolen from me, I am sure under this guise. Much to my chagrin, remembering the cops taking the knife from me, when I went to retrieve my knife, I was mistaken. The police didn't remember anything about the knife. My "Case - Shark's Tooth" is in the possession of the cop who took it or someone he gave it to. Scary, Scary stuff. Thanks for the videos Steve! From Michigan myself. Born & raised in Ferndale and probably gonna pass here in White Lake. Unless of course we can move to the deep woods up in Alpena someday... We shall see! Keep up the great work!!
@adambaum5824
5 жыл бұрын
Steve Lehto, I very pleased that we agree on the subject of Civil Asset Forfeiture. It is outrageous that the burden of proof is turned upside-down, and all without a shred of evidence required! This travesty must be brought to an end.
@skippylippy547
5 жыл бұрын
Steve - Thank you for covering this important topic. I have to ask: Where is Due Process? Where are our protections? Constitutional Bill of Rights? Is the Constitution now a "Dead Letter"?
@ZX2Fast
5 жыл бұрын
I purchase cars too flip, often carry cash. An officer trying too steal my money is how I am going too die. Of course, they will say they are acting under the law, I will simply be defending myself against an armed robbery
@SRFDriver
5 жыл бұрын
You see this is where you are wrong: Armed robbery is a felony. Civil forfeiture is LEGAL. It's not right, it's immoral, but it IS LEGAL. Only a popular movement a la MADD is going to have a chance at effecting a change in the law... IMHO of course.
@davidnippa6639
5 жыл бұрын
There is nothing worse than a tyrant with a badge. All this started due to the war on drugs but instead it turned out it was war on citizens. How is this any different than living under a repressive monarchy? Keep up the good work on keeping people aware of this awful law.
@danthemansmail
5 жыл бұрын
The day I learned about Civil Asset Forfeiture, is the day I knew this country was doomed.
@357Muzzleblast
2 жыл бұрын
Few things anger me as much as civil forfeiture. I can't believe courts -- any courts -- would uphold such a practice. If I were a juror in a case where a person used deadly force against a cop trying to take that person's money, I'd side with the person _using_ deadly force any day. Police or federal officers attempting to take a person's wealth should be treated as thieves. A badge doesn't give a person the right to steal. "Vigilantism" is defined as that which is resorted to when law fails. Cops need to understand this. Civil forfeiture has been upheld by corrupt judges and I can't believe it's come to this in the United States. We Virginians have a flag that shows two people, and one is on the ground. He represents the tyrant, and his crown has fallen beside him. The motto reads (Latin): “Thus always to tyrants!” It emphasizes the importance of civic virtue, and the crown represents civil authority. If cops and federal agents try to take a person's wealth in violation of the Constitution, they should be treated as the common criminals they are. Ask yourselves what sort of people with badges would hide behind them to commit grand larceny without due process? If they take your money, it's only a matter of time before they come for your guns and the money in your homes. Civil tyrants already can freeze and seize your bank accounts. And we, the People, must understand that the reason we have the Second Amendment is to keep the guys with the crown from negating the other amendments.
@glorioskiola
5 жыл бұрын
The Supreme Court ruling in that case did not address the practice of civil asset forfeiture. The ruling was very limited: they held that the “excessive fines” clause of the 8th amendment applies to state and local governments in addition to the federal government. So when you fight over your forfeiture case you can raise the 8th amendment issue.
@browndyt
5 жыл бұрын
Since this is 'civil' can civilans do the same thing back, ie. sieze a cop car as 'procceds of common theft'.
@donwilliams6879
5 жыл бұрын
Great video! I do disagree with one point. I think that South Carolina is typical of most of the states!
@RogerWKnight
3 жыл бұрын
Abolishing asset forfeiture is one way to defund the police!
@scottshoemake3941
5 жыл бұрын
I find this practice unconstitutional. Taking someone's money without due process is criminal period! Whatever happened to innocent until proven guilty? I'm sure this law was intended to restrict illegal activities, but if there is no crime committed then this is just evil.
@gregfisher
5 жыл бұрын
There was a case in Muskogee, Oklahoma where the business agent for a christian music group was stopped for a tail-light violation. In the course of investigation police found $53,000--money that the music group had raised for a church and orphanage in Burma. They took the money because it was proceeds of drug smuggling...even though they failed to prove any connection of the business manager to drugs. A bogus criminal complaint was issued by the Muskogee DA who also preceded with the Notice of Forfeiture. When the group hired a lawyer to contest the forfeiture the DA dropped the charges and returned the money. The DA's office received a great deal of negative comment from people when this entire case became public. Facts of the case are found at ij.org/case/muskogee-civil-forfeiture/
@cjerro67
5 жыл бұрын
I found $2100.00 on a state job and turned it in. I then filled out a claim for the money and was refused after 90 days and placing an ad in the paper.
@williambass5933
5 жыл бұрын
When people get enough of this crap you're gonna start seeing Civil Ass Forfeiture
@vinsonrusso6181
5 жыл бұрын
Yep pretty gross abuse of power. Problem in most states. Should be straight up illegal. Particularly abused in smaller jurisdictions with limited budgets.
@gregoryjacob624
4 жыл бұрын
Theft by force, it’s an aggravated robbery.
@tortoisehead30
4 жыл бұрын
People are wrong when they say "a few bad apples."
@PhilR09
3 жыл бұрын
More than a few bad apples read Serpico. He will tell you how many " bad apples" exist!
@dancross4444
5 жыл бұрын
Steve some agencies also use a roadside card swipe system to empty your account and max your credit cards for asset forfeiture. It's been out for a few years. I can try to find a link if needed.
@petermaepa4933
3 жыл бұрын
I was stopped at a roadblock my money and car. They did not prosecute me as the prosecutor denied because of no prospects for successful prosecution but still have my money and range rover irrigardles, it's frustrating because I'm a law abiding citizen
@privatelisting366
5 жыл бұрын
My wife and I collect cars but will send no money until they are inspected and driven by us. We cannot travel to other states with cash and no one will take a personal out of state check (wisely). Our way to keep from being robbed by the side of the road in the rural areas of the USA it to make sure our bank branch is available within driving distance of the car so that we can drive or fly in, check out some cars in the area and choose which one and go get a cashiers check, with the owner if at all possible. It worked nicely even for a car that was turned in at an Audi dealership, took the salesman to Chase Bank, swiped our card for like $35k and the cashier printed a check and handed it to him. We drove him back with the car to the dealership, signed the final paperwork and drove home on a one way road trip. The big pile of Audi dealership paperwork kept the car from being stolen by the police, because we still got pulled over in the south on our way back north, because I look foreign (boating and fishing tan) and she is white and stays out of the sun in the cabin. If we had traveled with that much cash, we would have been robbed for sure of every penny.
@manyhammers5944
5 жыл бұрын
Southern cops are bad.
@ipsurvivor
5 жыл бұрын
What’s going to happen when a dude is carrying money for his kid sick with cancer for that operation? That dude may seriously not give a care and totally lose it.
@JohnnyYuma405
5 жыл бұрын
There was a case in 2016 where a Christian rock band had done a series of benefit concerts to raise money that was going to be donated to an orphanage. A sheriff deputy in Oklahoma stopped the band manager for a broken tail light and seized $53K from him. The band members and pastor involved all explained to the department where the money came from along with proof of the concerts and where the money was going, but the county still refused to give the money back. Finally the media got involved and such a public uproar was created that the sheriff’s dept was shamed into returning the money. OK is also the state where the Highway Patrol had a device to enable them to take money off of people’s gift cards and prepaid credit cards, which they immediately began abusing. Media attention and public outcry curtailed that practice as far as I know. Hopefully.
@SuperAdam1313
5 жыл бұрын
Road Pirates, I live in a bad road pirate state. Last time I got pulled over, I lost my cool and called the State Trooper a road pirate right to his face. I'm old and disabled so I got away with it without a ticket. We live in a POLICE STATE.
@billserantoni9210
4 жыл бұрын
I’ve been warned to not drive an expensive car in certain Southern States. They will seize the car and you’re still liable to pay it off. Or if you have something the department can use, they take it and it’s expensive to get it back.
@lhartatt
4 жыл бұрын
Bill Serantoni bs as to only in the South. Civil forfeitures occur across the US. This is a national problem and a profoundly serious one. We need to rid ourselves of this unconstitutional activity.
@oskardogrushfan
5 жыл бұрын
In Crook County, Illinois if the police make a civil seizure, the property owner must be notified of a probable cause hearing to be held within 14 days of the seizure. At that hearing a seizure court judge determines if PC exists for the case to go forward to trial. If PC exists, then the case is put on the docket and is usually heard within 6 months or so Most times I have seen vehicles returned to the owners based on them being innocent owners. So if I drive your car and get pinched for an offense that allows for seizure, you can go claim that you are an innocent owner. Same applies for money and other property but vehicles are seized the majority of the time. I have heard about other counties that encourage seizure on anything that is remotely allegedly tied to a crime. If a drug dealer takes drugs or money out of his pants, they seize the pants. If a meth cook stores supplies in a fridge, they seize the fridge. As I commented on a previous video of yours there is a legitimate time and place for asset forfeiture, but serious oversight is necessary to weed out the abuse you have spoken about.
@MisterPersuasion
5 жыл бұрын
Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar's. I'm a City Bus Driver in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. Part of our job is to turn in Lost and Found items left on our city buses. We can ask for them back if they are unclaimed with two exceptions. One is bicycles and two is electronic equipment. If either one of those are left on our buses, they don't go to Lost and Found, they go directly to the Minneapolis Police Department (MPD). This is true even if the bus route doesn't go anywhere near Minneapolis. I drive in St. Paul and it's suburbs, yet all bikes and electronics left on my bus end up at the MPD and are sold at auction! The reason given for this, we are told, is because the MPD has a "special computer database" that knows if these bikes are stolen, and the electronics are searched with a "special software" to see if there is any "Kiddie Porn" or "Sex Trafficking" going on. What I find strange is ONLY Minneapolis PD gets to collect all this stuff, yet our bus system is a State Agency.
@lolbr3720
5 жыл бұрын
Let me c if I can grasp this? Its a CRIME, and it seems to be very, very ORGANIZED. Hmmm
@MisterPersuasion
5 жыл бұрын
Is it a crime? My employer doesn't seem to think so.
@jstnnixon
5 жыл бұрын
I think the problem is that most people think you have to be a criminal in order for this to happen. While in fact, more and more we are finding out that anyone can be a target regardless of the situation. This disgusting practice will continue to ferment hatred towards police if it is not stopped.
@whiterabbit2786
5 жыл бұрын
This has been a hot button topic for me. It sounds amazing. I remember reading a case of an exotic dancer who was traveling through the midwest on her way to buy a business. He had over 100k in cash in her vehicle. The police seized it. She spent thousands in legal fees to get her own money back. So sad. How is this even still legal? Im in St George UT, right on the I-15 between Vegas and Salt Lake. I see more highway patrol stops on southbound traffic than northbound. UHP knows the where the money is. Drugs flow north, cash flows south.
@carpenterfamily6198
5 жыл бұрын
Very concerning - as many people live paycheck to paycheck - just barely making it through life. Taking $500 or $1K from that person could easily snowball into missing rent, car payments or other bills - it’s not a stretch that people could eventually end up homeless and or unemployed. This could negativity effect not just that person but their family too. This is wrong & must stop.
@gerardtrigo380
5 жыл бұрын
I am glad you posted the article. Thank you for this service. Sharing all over the place.
@AverilDoyle
5 жыл бұрын
I had a time where I was going to buy a new work van for my business. I took $10,000 cash out of my safe and started driving to Baltimore to go inspect it and do the deal.. I decided to take the risk and bring my handgun with me into Maryland despite my concealed pistol permit not being reciprocated in the 'People's Republic of Maryland' just in case if something that was life threatening happened to my friend and I as we went to go buy this van. As we are driving, my friend goes "Oh shit." I asked him what's wrong, to which he replies "You do know, that if we get pulled over, we are going to jail, right?" He continues "I don't think we are going to be able to talk our way out of having a firearm, 10 grand in cash, AND going to Baltimore" Right then my heart sunk, He was right. It would be significantly harder for me to prove that the cash was not ill-gotten gains, and to prove that I was going there to buy a van and not going to buy Heroin.. I realized that if anything went wrong, It would be a huge legal battle and I would not end up faring well no matter how it went. Luckily the transaction went well, and we got the hell out of Dodge, but it is moments like that which remind me how much I distain Civil Forfeiture, and how easily I could take a huge hit, regardless of any other crimes or suspicions the officer may or may not have in his or her head.
@johnhansen8134
5 жыл бұрын
I live in Greenville, South Carolina and I have followed CAF accounts all over the US and have read so many horror stories of totally innocent victims of this legalized « color-of-law» armed robbery.
@liveoak144
5 жыл бұрын
it is a criminal racket. it is also punishment BEFORE a trial to prove guilt. it removes your ability to hire an attorney. it is just a license to steal.
@EvilLoynis
5 жыл бұрын
The most wrong thing about this law is that it turns the whole innocent until proven guilty thing to mean absolutely nothing. And I agree with you this is total highway robbery and what little justification there is is wiped out by the massive Injustice of it. And remember that old saying about it's better to let 10 guilty men go free than to imprison 1 who's innocent? That's a load of BS as well.
@gisleyber2s
5 жыл бұрын
People who are pissed about this issue should also look up the case of Castleberry, Alabama to see the extent to which "policing for profit" can trap innocent people.
@jamesbluff2472
5 жыл бұрын
Hey Steve, enjoy your channel. I’m a 2L in law school and have been watching your channel for about a year. Since I’ve been watching your channel it has opened my eyes on potential areas of law to focus on.
@stevelehto
5 жыл бұрын
Cool. What school are you attending?
@jamesbluff2472
5 жыл бұрын
I’m current attending Mississippi College School of Law.
@linzierogers6227
5 жыл бұрын
You're shocked this is going on in America? I'm a black American octogenarian who survived Jim Crow with all of its draconian features. Nothing occurring in America shocks me.
@mariegrayson628
3 жыл бұрын
I’m the RAISIN IN THE SUN IN, DUNCAN SOUTH CAROLINA!! Jim Crow part 2
@pyloric932
5 жыл бұрын
My South Carolina story. Back in college traveling to Daytona Beach on I-95. State police pulled me and a friend over for speeding. Cop said fine was $60. We only had $40 which cop took and said goodbye. No ticket or anything. I guess the money bought a couple dozen donuts.
@outdoorsguy
5 жыл бұрын
I thought this only happened with the federales in Mexico. Now this type of theft is completely legal here.
@zacharyhenderson2902
5 жыл бұрын
Someone should make a movie about this. They could call it 'Money, Boats, and Margarita Machines' (A particular police department actually once used money taken in civil asset forfeiture to purchase a margarita machine.)
@johnkendall6962
5 жыл бұрын
Same thing with guns. Even if the charges are later dropped try getting your gun back.
@richardfrost4936
5 жыл бұрын
john kendall They will take guns.
@rockyroad7502
4 жыл бұрын
this is robbery plain and simple. every victim needs to surround the homes of the criminals until they return their money
@loschekell
Жыл бұрын
" Police never heard of civil asset forfeiture." They heard about it but it went in one ear and out the other because there was nothing between the ears.
@bluewater454
5 жыл бұрын
*You are absolutely right on this.* This is flat-out criminal activity perpetrated by law enforcement, and it is not the only example of the police confiscating property without due process. I had this happen to me in regard to confiscation of my guns a few years back, even though I was never convicted of a crime(accused, not convicted). I was told I had to file an Aricle 78(NYS) with the NYS Supreme Court to get them back. $2000 to hire an atty for this. The real criminals arent the ones stealing tv's and credit cards. The real criminals are sometimes wearing guns and police uniforms. They know damned well what they are doing.
@HoldenNY22
5 жыл бұрын
Where in New York State do you Live. In New York City? Guns are effectively except for the Police,;a few lucky and probably powerful people who have gun permits; and Criminals
@planesandbikes7353
5 жыл бұрын
well it is not criminal by law, it is just simply unfair and perhaps unconstitutional
@bluewater454
5 жыл бұрын
Planes and Bikes "Legalized" stealing is still criminal.
@bluewater454
5 жыл бұрын
HoldenNY22 Gun laws for NY City don't apply in the rest of NYS. Plenty of gun owners in NY.
@IronmanV5
5 жыл бұрын
And cops wonder why people dislike or hate them🙄
@swdierks
5 жыл бұрын
Its not just money. My brother-in-law got stuck in the mud with his truck while hunting. A police car came by and decided that his expensive rifle needed ballistic testing to see if it was involved in a crime. It took him over a year and some lawyers fees to get it back. They kept telling him that it hadn't been tested yet. It was never tested. They were just hoping he would give up and let them sell it on auction.
@manyhammers5944
5 жыл бұрын
Steven Dierks That's a Second Amendment issue and I would have to exercise that Right. A clear violation.
@avega2792
5 жыл бұрын
At 4:41 you call civil asset forfeiture a tax for interacting with a cop. It's interesting you called it that because criminal organizations also coerce money from people and call it a tax. Take one group, either the cops or the criminal organizations, and substitute the other and somehow the act will be deemed legal or not, yet the result is the same. Theft is theft, no matter who the perpetrator is.
@roberteltze4850
5 жыл бұрын
Some states try to prevent the incentives. Missouri, for example, requires a conviction or guilty plea and any profits from civil asset forfeiture go to the school system instead of police. It sounds good but when the police find sizable amounts of money, or a nice car etc., they call the DEA or some other federal agency. The feds do the confiscation and kick back a sizable portion of the money to the police agency, effectively bypassing the state's intentions for the use of the money.
@horsey8516
5 жыл бұрын
Good morning Steve. :) Civil forfeiture has been ongoing in MOST states for MUCH longer than a few years especially on interstate highways but thank you for spreading more light on this injustice. :)
@stevelehto
5 жыл бұрын
This is my third video on the topic. It's been around IN THEORY for more than a few hundred years. It has just gotten out of hand in our lifetimes.
@mgass1354
5 жыл бұрын
@Steve Lehto. The civil asset forfeiture is a case of the slippery slope. It started long ago when police departments began receiving less and less funding from the municipality, county and states, forcing departments to find new and additional ways to fund their department operations. The first way they found were writing tickets. The entire reason you heard of departments having "ticket quota's" is because it was used as a means to get those additional funds for the department. This led from officers merely writing more tickets to officers writing tickets based on false pretenses, ie, claiming you were speeding when you weren't. The civil asset forfeiture started as a means to combat drug operations. Not only were drugs seized, but, cash and property. When police departments realized that they could make huge amounts of money from these seizures, large departments began focusing on drug enforcement operations. This filtered down to the smaller departments, as well. Once it was firmly established that law enforcement could seize assets without any repercussions, the door was kicked wide open, as you see. Law enforcement began applying the concept of asset forfeiture to the citizen during traffic stops. Are there cops who don't know about it? Sure. Not every single department is using asset forfeiture as a means to fund the department. Many do, however. And yes, it is nothing more than a legal means to steal from the citizen. More and more are doing it, however, as there are literally zero consequences to the department or officers for seizing cash or assets, even on pretenses proven to be false. Worse, many of the corrupt departments target the poorer citizens knowing they don't have the means or resources to fight a prolonged court battle to recover the money or property. And, even worse than that, people travelling are targeted at an even higher rate as fighting a court battle in a different area or state is an even higher cost to the individual. Never, EVER, travel with cash. And this is coming from a former law enforcement officer.
@jaykrappenshitz4992
5 жыл бұрын
I did a quick search on the Google (hardly research), and only two TWO states have banned civil asset forfeiture. New Mexico and Nebraska. Kansas (my state) recently started making LEOs track forfeiture spending this year. That's INSANE!
@ianbattles7290
5 жыл бұрын
"No person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property WITHOUT DUE PROCESS OF LAW." Some cop having a vague, unspecified hunch is not enough "due process" to empty my wallet on the side of the road.
@jrgordon47
4 жыл бұрын
Once as a kid I saw a cop steal an apple from my Uncles store, bit into it...It was bad or sour he complained to my Uncle and took another one and did so almost every day. My Uncle never complained, back then you couldn't...But from that day on my Uncle always gave that cop the best apple, and he did it personally...It wasn't til years later when I asked my Uncle about it that he confided to me that he always, without fail, pissed on the apple he gave that cop...Guess that cop liked salty apples... . Like Pappy always said...Don't complain...just get even...
@albee9915
4 жыл бұрын
Lmao 👍🥃🍺🍷🎂🍔❤️
@boson285
5 жыл бұрын
Wow. Lawman racketeering. I wonder how it would play out if an officer seized under civil forfieture but the citizen made civil arrest of police officer with the Sherriff for theft.
@lolbr3720
5 жыл бұрын
Hoping they're not related...
@lolbr3720
5 жыл бұрын
We have that problem, where I live...
@onewordhereonewordthere6975
5 жыл бұрын
They should be prosecuted under RICO law from the top to the bottom and they should be punished to the max
@billyjack5957
5 жыл бұрын
I know it's hard to take Steven Colbert seriously but he did a fantastic piece on this topic about a year ago. The real problem is people (the public) believe the police can do no wrong.
@johnvanek8234
2 жыл бұрын
Is cash money now illegal and does that mean the US has no currency?
@kurtwetzel154
Жыл бұрын
Cash is not illegal but know CAF exists so carry it accordingly.
@rbyum6254
5 жыл бұрын
Absolute power leads to corruption.
@Amy-zb6ph
5 жыл бұрын
My best friend said there was a cop in her neighborhood growing up who would find kids smoking pot, take their weed, and then give them a warning. Later, she became friends with the cop's son and found out that the cop was taking the pot to smoke himself so they would steal some of it back from him.
@mariegrayson628
3 жыл бұрын
I forgot to state that I live in DUNCAN, SOUTH CAROLINA! They named all my ASSETS on their SEARCH WARRANT, so the so called VICTIM would have a list of all my property assets!! MALICIOUS PROSECUTION VICTIM!! I need help!!!
@mmacpherson9323
5 жыл бұрын
Unbelievable, well if you ever see a high speed chase in western PA involving a white camaro they tried to rob me lol.
@shawnl3151
4 жыл бұрын
Many private citizens commit civil asset forfeiture and are spending time in federal prison. Put on a badge and it’s legal.
@lolbr6818
4 жыл бұрын
It is now august 2020. Nothing has changed. This is such a powerful post I wanted to see the changes over one year. So, here we are. Living under this cloud still. I fear driving, being legal isn't good enough. Road gangs working for the state point lasers at the back of my head driving on I-35 In OK. Big fun. Blinding pain....
@RAWTEN
4 жыл бұрын
Also, in OK. I feel your pain.
@situationmoney
5 жыл бұрын
Government now assumes that anyone who carries cash is a criminal. Lesson learned, never carry more than $100 in cash while driving. If you do need to carry large amounts of cash, always hide it somewhere in the car. Never tell the police you have large amounts of cash...
@johnstack5008
5 жыл бұрын
OK but how does somebody pay for stuff if he doesn't have a credit card or checkbook. A big grocery bill for a large family could be $300.
@mikemarkley8906
5 жыл бұрын
I watched an episode of "Cops" where they set up a "Sting Operation" with an undercover cop selling weed on a street corner ...If the person bought some weed , then the cops swarmed in and arrested the buyer and seized their cars because they were transporting drugs with it ....Ludicrous isn't it ??? In NJ , I had to drive to and from work through a neighborhood that was known for drug selling. I stopped at a red light , and two kids ran up to my car and wanted to sell me weed. I refused , but a block down the road the cops pulled me over and searched my car , saying they had "suspicion" that I was transporting drugs. I did not have any drugs , but I suspect they really just wanted to seize my built up 1970 Nova.
@scuzzbecuzz
5 жыл бұрын
Its outrageous!!! I’m sure it’s ruined many innocent people!
@ksayre46
5 жыл бұрын
Tourists should boycott those states.
@SaintFredrocks
4 жыл бұрын
They siezed $20,229,080 in Michigan in 2013 alone.
@senseofstile
5 жыл бұрын
Great video. I am currently living in the Philippines. The police here are totally different than the police in the US. Here the police just don't want to be bothered. You don't bother them, they don't bother you.
@ggeiser3
3 жыл бұрын
I retired from Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office in 1981. When I hired in our then Sheriff drove a big green Chrysler Imperial. Guess how he got such a nice ride. Yep, civil asset forfeiture. So, obviously this theft has been ongoing for at least fifty years! No doubt much longer. Florida Highway Patrol had a marked unit which was a late model Corvette! Gotten from forfeiture. Vice agents bought high tech equipment with drug money. (Personal note: Vice Agents pretty much wallowed in with those drug dealers all the time. Uniformed officers mostly thought of vice agents as criminals with a badge!). PS: my picture herein is me currently in security, and I am not a police officer.
@mariegrayson628
3 жыл бұрын
This is happening to me now!! I was falsely arrested with a gun charge, so they could enter my house illegally and rob me of over $10k. In jewelry and 5k. In cash!
@wetokebitcoins1769
5 жыл бұрын
this happened to me on a highway going through a small town in Northern California. They fucked me up bad and tried to take everything. In the end after putting me through hell for over a year, I got all my stuff back and all charges dropped. Guess what, I never got all my stuff back in the end, they kept delaying and delaying and eventually I was like fuck it, i was glad that my freedom wasn't in jeopardy and moved on without my electronics. It's really crazy shit, I had to drive for 18 hours both ways to get to my court hearings probably 1-2 times a month until they dropped the charges on month 14. Up until this point I had never heard of civil asset forfeiture, I found out quick online what the scam was.
@darrellw.peters626
5 жыл бұрын
Very Good Steve enjoyed this one greatly.
@18618madeinamerica
5 жыл бұрын
This has been going on for quite a while now and should scare everyone as in our republic there's supposed to be a presumption of innocence until proven guilty.
@rickm3217
5 жыл бұрын
Isn't this armed robbery?
@lolbr3720
5 жыл бұрын
This is organized crime leaching into state government. Wake up Rick...
@gregorym9591
5 жыл бұрын
EXCELLENT !!!!!! I have told many people this and was always told it's impossible in USA for this to happen. Wellllllllll guess what people. Where is CNN, ABC, CBS. This is nothing new.
@lolbr3720
5 жыл бұрын
Let's call them. All of us...
@harmgregory4560
4 жыл бұрын
Keep pursuing this, Steve. You are doing a public service! (As are the reporters who wrote the story in SC)
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