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Civil Asset Forfeiture Has Enabled Police To Become The New "Highwaymen"
Submitted by Jeff Thomas via InternationalMan.com,
The Highwayman has a romantic image as a bold, 18th-century scallywag who would ride up to a coachload of aristocrats on his horse, shouting, “Stand and deliver!” Having relieved the aristocrats of their purses, he would gallop off.
Today, the Highwayman is being revived in a big way in the US. But, far from being a scofflaw, he is, in fact, the law. He wears a badge and the law protects him in his roadside robberies.
The revival is the result, in part, of both the defunding of police departments (creating a demand for law enforcement departments to seek money from other sources) and the encouragement of the federal government for an overall expansion of the police state.
The legal justification for such highway robbery is the police practice of civil forfeiture, which has been on the books for decades. Civil forfeiture allows law enforcement to seize property (including cash, cars, and even homes) without having to prove the owners are guilty of a crime.
In many cases, drivers are not charged with any crime at all, not even a traffic citation. In fact, one Florida sheriff has noted that the best targets are those who are obeying the speed law. He knows whereof he speaks, having seized over $6.5 million on the highways of Florida. (Quite an advance on the size of the purses seized by the 18th-century highwayman.)
Typically, police stop a car and make the usual request to see license and registration. If the driver asks why he was stopped, a vague explanation may be offered by the officer, or he may simply ignore the question, then demand a search of the car or the driver’s person. The officer then seizes cash and other valuables as potential “evidence” of a crime (suspected drug dealing is a common accusation).
In some cases, police threaten drivers that, if they are not cooperative, their children may be taken by Child Protective Services.
The burden of proof is on the driver. In order to regain his possessions, he must prove his innocence in a court. However, in most cases, no charges are made, so there is no court case to try. Whether charges are made or not, law enforcement agencies are entitled to keep 100% of the forfeiture proceeds. Although they are required to keep records on forfeiture, in many cases, police departments avoid or even refuse to provide such information when requested.
Although police may prey on people anywhere, including in small towns, the most prevalent location is on highways, the further from civilisation the better. In this way, the driver knows that he’s in the middle of nowhere facing a man with both a badge and a gun. He might consider himself lucky to be left with just his car, so that he can drive away from the robbery and not be left on the pavement with no car and no money. For many, this is enough incentive to allow police to take what they want…and not file any complaint.
Of course, these stops and seizures violate the Fourth Amendment right to freedom from unreasonable search and seizure and at least one state judge in California has described the practice as “an institutional corruption.” Conceptually, a driver can refuse to have his car or his person inspected and can attempt to prosecute the officer, but again, the burden of proof is on the driver. As a result, prosecutions are rare and successful prosecutions rarer still.
So, the Highwayman has returned, but he now wears a badge. What does this mean for the future? As social and economic conditions deteriorate in the US, will the country’s highways come to resemble a Mad Max scenario, but one in which many of the raiders are people in authority?
As with so many trends in the US, EU, and similar jurisdictions, this is one of many symptoms of overall social/moral/economic/governmental deterioration, a bellwether of continued decay. Whenever a country is so far along in its decline that its “peacekeepers” make a regular habit of robbing the people they’re paid to protect, and get away with it, we may conclude that further decline is to come and it may be time to exit this particular highway.
Unfortunately, when such crime exists from coast to coast, as it does with today’s institutionalised highwaymen, the solution is to seek out a better way of life in another country entirely. Fortunately, there are many countries where conditions are considerably better.
* * *
Editor’s Note: Because of the risk of civil forfeiture, we’ve published a groundbreaking, step-by-step manual on the three ESSENTIAL steps all Americans should take right now to protect themselves and their family.
These steps are easy and straightforward to implement. New York Times best-selling author Doug Casey and his team describe how you can do it all from home, with very little effort. Normally, this book retails for $99. But we believe this book is so important, especially right now, that I’ve arranged a way for US residents to get a free copy. Click here to secure your copy.
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Been saying this for years, Highway Men, with badges.
When out on America's highways, maybe keep only $50 or so in your wallet.
Keep the other $500 well hidden.
well hidden? aluminum foil.
He steals from the poor and gives to the rich. Stupid bitch...
Monty Python.
http://youtu.be/kp-R1o753pM
What is going on today makes the list of grievences on the Declaration of Independence look like the complaints against a condominium association.
It does doesn't it?
The elevator is too damned slow & I need the government to give larger Hove-r-Round so I can wedge my fat ass into it in order to even ride the damned elevator! I've got a pressing ObamaCare doctors appointment and lotto to play! This entire infrastructure around place needs an upgrade, it's falling apart!
It's like I'm living in a fucking third world country here for crying out loud!!! ;-)
If you carry cash to avoid the banks, they will take it physically via the police.
If you keep your cash in the banks they will take it to bail themselves out.
Fuck you you're a slave. Any questions?
What is the capital of Assyria?
Niniveh?
Alas, Babylon.
Thats why you need one of these "Live video upload apps" for your phone. Just in case. Not that you would ever need something like this in the USA. What?
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/stream-live-video-smartphone/
a $400 traffic ticket is robbery too.
Revenuers.
Demand a warrant be presented describing the place to be searched and what they are searching for before you let them in your private space inside your automobile. Demand YOUR lawyer of choice be present to observe the search. Lock your doors and close your windows.
Keep your mouth shut except to invoke your Constitutional rights. You have the right to remain silent which means you have no obligation to help them with their investigation.
You are the only one that can enforce the Constitution. The police and the courts wont except in rare cases.
Used to go to Mexico, years ago.
If you were driving you always needed to plan for the inevitable stop by the Federalies.
We have become as corrupt as the 3rd world crap holes...
Did they have Stinkin Badges?
At least the Federales could be bribed with a few porno mags or some M&Ms, today's police state wants to take it all.
Great freelance work opportunity for anyone... Work for three to eight h a day and profit in the range of $5000-$12000 each month... Weekly payments... Here is what i do... www.wallstreet34.com
Yeah, but you got to write a lot of tickets to get promoted up to that level.
Bitcoin $230
Only down five-fold from its high? That's encouraging.
You have to remember that one of the original arguments for bitcoin was that volatility is not to be questioned because it apparently doesn't matter.
Yeah, my silver has been fucked with too, but I at least get to hold it.
Let me know if you BTCers want a 3D-printed representation of your 32- or 64-bit bitcoin wallets. That's the closest you'll get to holding your "wealth."
p.s. when I go skate in a half hour, I will look fondly upon my wealth: a skateboard, and a nervous system able to manipulate it through space and time to do cool shit.
I do the same, but on my mountain bike or out with one of my bows.
Hard to steal that which is without form. Sun Tzu commented on the subject. No plans can be made against it, nor can the deepest spy discern it.
A silver skateboard is a bad idea. A skateboard needs to flex.
the first alva was a solid wood board. boards dont have to flex.....
Wood flexes plenty, and actually has a higher modulus of elasticity than many thermoplastics.
I still have my old Nash Tenderfoot from 1968.
And that's in Benny Bucks, its actual intrinsic value is zero.
(Musical interlude) ;-)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUCV9R_Wp0k
Keep up with the Fascist Police State here.....
www.informationliberation.com
Will Grigg
http://freedominourtime.blogspot.com/
Smokey and The Bandit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcNFjpxU0E8&list=PL578DDE0FA5037866&index=5
To the knowledgeable people who give a fuck about life - it is very important for those aware of these practices to use the word "PLUNDER," open and wide for all to hear,. I recently had the chance to speak with a friend (boomer) about this issue and my usage of the word plunder was welcomed, and my insistence that every man use this word to describe this current age. If good, honest people see plunder and don't call it out, everyone is fucked. That's how relentless totalitarian fuckery becomes "normal life", when people ignore the very plunder before their eyes.
No better arrangement of words can be prepared than Bastiat's "The Law" in describing such things.
Whenever I try 'calling it out' I usually get a funny look from those living a 'normal life'.
Still do it though.
Sitting around the campfire with friends the other night, pointing out just a few obvious things and felt the need to keep repeating, "I'm not crazy," which I later realized wasn't helping my case.
It's much better to just go along with the flow, there's a real possiblity we are insane. Remember, if you're rich you're just eccentric, if you're poor you're fucking nuts...and no one ever calls their leaders crazy.
It's just the way it's set up ;-)
Better to ask questions that force the Ignorati to research the answers for themselves...
All you can do is plant the seed. It will either sprout in its own good time or lie fallow until it is too late.
Can't this go to SCOTUS?
Complete BS
Why would you expect SCOTUS to do anything other than rubber stamp it?
SCOTUS went to the same Neo Bolshevik re-education institutions as your Congressmen, Senators, Law enforcement ect... You'll get no relief from SCOTUS.
Don't look rich and transport your gold with an economy rent-a-car.
Or ship it usps insured, thats how i get my shipments, thats how i can ship them. Plumbing parts is what they are.
Carry around half of one month's pay in 20 dollar bills and on a traffic stop, they'll confiscate it as 'drug money'.
I wonder if they ever confiscate bottles of tide detergent.
Not in New Mexico. Not any more.
I thought Holder did away with that on his way out of office........
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/01/21/on-his-way-out-holder-g...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/holder-ends-seized-asset-sh...
I ass-raped Holder on his way out of office - is that what you're thinking about?
He still is.
Income Redistribution for Dummies
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUuDw6-sUes
These highwaymen better watch out. One day some driver is really going to get pissed, and you think we got problems with cops being targeted for random shootings now, just wait.
the day is coming when random pig hunters are going to start clearing the roads of these traffic hazard pigs. Just a nice scope on the pigs favorite hunting spots and bang. Pig thinning, no license needed it's going to be open season.
as for me, being old and decrepit, I'm just gonna sit on the porch and raise a toast for every pig scraped off the pavement.
arreddy be open bruthah...but why d'black man gotstah start all dis...honkys is chicken $hits...
Blacks are not domesticated. Non blacks have domesticated themselves through the evolutive pressure of living in civilization.
Blacks dont make good sheeple.
Some guy went nuts about 6 months or so ago in Upstate NY...saw a trooper pull another victim over on the side of the highway...and drove into to him and killed him. Funny that this story has been all but purged from the media. Why? Why would "they" not want people to read this story? Would people read it, think about it and wonder, "Why would a man do something so horrible?" Was he depraved? Was he, too, robbed at gunpoint by one of the king's highway men? How many of us know a victim of His Majesty's tribute collectors? Who are "they"?
I don't condone that type of activity, obviously. It is horrible. However, I do understand that it can drive a man insane after awhile...watching the armed redcoats...the King's soldiers with their commissions...stealing the property and fruits of labor of working people over and over and over and over and over and over and over again. It must eventually grate on the nerves of liberty loving peoples, no? I am shocked it hasn't happened more frequently.
As the King sends his men out for more plunder and tribute, I would expect more liberty loving men will have problems with them. I would expect that the numbers of liberty loving men will increase.
To be clear, I abhor violence.
Perhaps we should take a moment to read a bit of Patrick Henry-1775
No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, entertaining as I do opinions of a character very opposite to theirs, I shall speak forth my sentiments freely and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. The questing before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it.
I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided, and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves and the House. Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with those warlike preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none. They are meant for us: they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. And what have we to oppose to them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with contempt, from the foot of the throne! In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free-- if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending--if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained--we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of hosts is all that is left us!
They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when a British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance by lying supinely on our backs and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. The millions of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations, and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable--and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace-- but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
violence has it's place.
I find it puzzling the MSM has not given, to my knowledge, any attention to the slaying of four people by a mother distraught over the taking of her daughter in family court in Barre, VT. The killings took place on August 7th, the mother arrested at the scene of the fourth slaying outside the office of the Department of Children and Families.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/vermont-woman-accused-of-killing-social-work...
Seems to me, with all the hype lately over shootings nationwide, this one is virtually MIA. Even though the link carries a "cbsnews.com" url, it links to a page other than the CBS News main page, sort of "hiding in plain sight."
It was thought any stories seen as unflattering to women might have a negative affect on Hillary’s polling.
(Barre VT is only 25 miles west of New Hampshire!)
You abhor violence. Promise?
Just because I find it revolting does not mean that I find it useless.
Midnight Rider https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Kb2x0D584c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hi94mMed6EQ&html5=1
The HighwaymenMy comment on this is -- it's just a minority that go for this, most LEOs understand where this leads.
Weed this "Law" and those who support it OUT.
I think most readers of this blog understand who is behind this divide and conquer strategy.
WTF? Seriously? All that crap just so you could flog a book to suckers for $100 bucks?
Who's the thief?
Thank you for your concern about the security of my fucking wallet, but I think I'll pass on the freebie.
'Secure' your rare copy of a digital book ... before they all run out! ... Jezus krist! ... what a fucking scammer.
Doug is just trying to maximize his return living in South America and all...
Not acceptable! He should be trafficking blow like every other crook.
bankers, there your highwaymen
par Excellency.
60+ years ago, I had to buy back my stolen bike from the cop who was the local fence. Power corrupts. Respect corrupts.
The delusion of the American sheeple is that cops or anyone wearing a government uniform can be trusted. Nuremberg Chief Judge, US Supreme court Judge, Jackson advised, "any lawyer worth his salt will tell the suspect in no uncertain terms to make no statement to the police under any circumstances" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_H._Jackson
The police are liars and dishonest. http://bikersofamerica.blogspot.com/2013/05/supreme-court-says-never-spe... The judges protect their fellow conspirators, aka the police and district attorneys. You have no rights. http://faqusajudicialcorruption.blogspot.com/
Here in East Alabama and West Georgia there are two connected Bicycle Trails totalling 100 miles in length. It's a huge draw for Bicycle Tourism with an estimated yearly impact of $25 Million Dollars. Cyclists will get off the trails and onto roads to eat, shop, and find places to stop for the night. When this started happening local Red Necks would get mad at these Cyclists for being on the roads "holding them up" and so would harass them in an effort to "get them off the road". The Police came up with a way to stop the harassment of Touring Cyclists and make a lot of revenue in the process. They have plan cloth officers on Bicycles riding the roads used by Touring Cyclists to not only watch for other Cyclists being harassed and get harassed themselves. The drivers caught harassing Cyclists are arrested and charged with Reckless Endangerment. The fine is $3,000 dollars and up to one year in jail. Minimum Bond is $25,000 to get out of jail. Court Cost is $549 and the Defendant or Representative (Lawyer) must appear before the Judge in these cases. The vehicle used is impounded so towing and impound charges is another $1,000 + $25 every day the car sits in impound. A law firm specializes in defending the person charged and costs $2,000. They have this "Process" down to a science. The Defendant is taken to jail and the first person he sees is a Lawyer. The Lawyer tells the person that he can walk by paying the Law firm $9,049 to take care of the entire process for him or her and they will not need to show up in court or be jailed for one year and they get their car back within an hour at the jails front door. Harassment can be honking horns, yelling, throwing objects, vulgar hand signals, and passing closer than 3 feet or 1 meter between the cyclists and the vehicle.
thats fucked up
Nice to see there's another Zero Hedger in East Alabama. Was beginning to think I was the only one around here not fooled by all the foolishness...
Thining that the rednecks should not be harassing the cyclists.
Thinking that turning it into a business is criminal.
That is why you get up to about 65mph and mow them down. Be sure to obscure your rear plates just to be safe......
Humpty dumpty sits on a wall. That we hold up.
I'm not sure which is worse,,, the coppers robbing their constituents,,, or someone making a buck by it.
And I think we can all agree the Bill of Rights is pretty much history.
Think about that stall thing. It may be the only way around tptb protective layers.
Just wait until the schools start doing it.
There is a long list of groups that have declared open season on all the honest people of the world.
Those anabolic steroids cops love so much have to be paid for somehow.
W
Where do these talking points come from?
I get it but sometimes it seems alternative media picks up on certain talking points.
If heard and seen this a lot, especially from populist politicians latley.
Yea, no shit the government will Robb you. Gun in your face or otherwise.
Us slaves should know by now! Ain't nothing going to change that.
Cops are just implementing FED POLICY of cashless society. If you deposit $10000 or withdraw $1000 or more FED and FBI is notified by a bank, if you deposit twice $5000 you loose it to a forfeiture for an attempt to obstruct the transaction notification rules i.e. want to hide the money from authorities. Tyler wrote about such a case of small business deposits seized.
What is also shocking that the bulk of the loot the cops get via civil forfeiture are in $20-$50 to $100 seized money per case ridiculously justifying seizure as drug dealer money. It’s insane. Now FBI do not want police to execute civil forfeiture on suspicions of a Federal crime, the whole thing is that much corrupted.
And the worse is that they using existing laws that violate the constitution but it is a totalitarian system we live in, where even money are not really ours and nobody gives a shit about it, don't want to be awaken from torpor. If a cop seizes your cash it's OK if credit card he will go to jail. They are all stooges of the banksters.
In case of real estate seizure is even worse. In the country where we suppose to have an unalienable right to life, liberty and property, we can be killed “legally” on a whim, we can be “legally” deprived of liberty without any due process and in reality we legally own nothing.
And here is why:
https://contrarianopinion.wordpress.com/2015/01/19/property-of-none/
LPT: Keep a fake wallet in your car. That way when the police pull you over and rob you, you'll still have some cash left.
When highway robbery goes wrong
http://controversialtimes.com/politics/infamous-video-cop-killer-to-be-e...
One of a zillion corrupt laws made by the congress critiers... probably to ensure protection for themselves.