This is hilarious.
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This is not hilarious, this is disheartening but not at all surprising.
Remember when America was the land of the free? This is total BS.
America has become the land of the broke, never mind the free.
Cash is fungible and untraceable.
Pay with a bank transfer, like the drug lords do, because carrying specie is incentive, never mind motive, for fucking you over.
Who ever could have predicted the abuses of these seizure laws? Oh, yeah – pretty much all of us who spoke out against them, and no one cared.
LarryS said, “Remember when America was the land of the free?”
No.
so much for “innocent until proven guilty”. this is just sickening to see.
that cop is clearly a low-grade moron. “he couldn’t prove he had a legitimate use for the money”.
he shouldn’t have to.
“the money was hidden in a tool bag under trash”. i don’t know about you, but i don’t ordinarily travel with my money in a white bag with a big dollar sign on it sitting in the passenger seat either. i would consider it prudent to hide that much money from real criminals that the officer should be pursuing.
Don’t talk to criminals or con men, they are out to do you harm. That includes police officers.
Cops are (or quickly become [because its that corrosive an environment,]) the low-grade thugs we pay to protect us from no-grade thugs, grifters, killers, thieves and other riff-raff the show Cops is populated with.
Some eventually become semi-simians in white shirts who are higher-order thugs, recruits for hit-squads, dangerous bullies with guns who order stupid morons in blue shirts to pepper spray protesters in the face.
That’s the price we pay for having a populace of shoe scrapings.
Repeat after me:
I will not answer any questions.
You do not have permission to search my person or my car.
Am I free to go now?
Do not talk to police. Do not lie to police. Do not admit anything to police. If you were going 90mph in a 70mph zone, don’t even admit to 71mph. If you have been drinking, don’t admit to a single drink. Shut up. Most people put themselves in jail by doing dumb ass crap like talking to police.
And practise in the mirror.
Practising my Robert De Niro. You talking to me?
Don’t admit to anything! That is definitely rule #1.
You have to be smarter than the cops which shouldn’t be hard for most (innocent) people to do.
But in this case, it all started when the cop asked the guy if he was carrying any large sums of cash. The guy should have said “no”! Cause who’s to say what “large” is? The stupid cop should have asked if the guy was carrying more than $10,000 in cash – something specific! Cause some people might consider “large” to be anything north of $1,000. Others might consider large to be anything in excess of a million dollars. Still, others might see “large” as anything more than forty bucks! Therefore $20K is not a large sum of cash and it’s not a lie to say so too.
Besides, they guy wasn’t exactly “carrying” his cash either. He was “transporting” it!
IOW, think like a politician and you’ll be just fine.
fuck the police. with a bullet to the face
I think these are called “Civil Forfeiture” Laws and police can/should seize any property used in the commission of a crime. Quite often your car and even home and real estate, but ALWAYS the cash.
“This is hilarious?” California has such a law. Don’t hear about it much. Last time was some guy on Malibu Beach being raided for drugs, no drugs were found but the guys 2 MM house was seized and used by the Mayor for party central while the guy tried to raise funds to get the house back.
….and not answering questions is “being uncooperative” and thereby suspicious. It works on tv, but rarely anywhere else.
The cop was NOT wrong. Its the LAW that is wrong.
Join the ACLU or fight the system yourself.
The cop wasn’t wrong for not putting all the facts in his report?
The cop was WRONG, but he was following his presidents example and denying the victim due process.
Sadly, this is nothing new. It has been going on for decades now. But the general public is too busy with Dancing with the Stars and the Kardashians and football to care.
I thought the voiceover was hilarious. Sounded like Forrest Gump.
All I can say to our Finest thieves, crooks, and liars, is, get ready for massive layoffs and kiss your million-dollar pensions goodbye, because 39 US senators have already signed on for TOP TO BOTTOM JUSTICE REFORM.
With some more phone calls by the public to your members of Congress and Senate, this can happen.
http://webb.senate.gov/newsroom/pressreleases/02-08-2011-02.cfm
Thanks for the heads-up, Publius.
One of those senators capable of anonymously blocking bills must know something that he or she never wants to see the light of day:
The bill, which was first introduced March 26, 2009, was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on January 21, 2010, with 39 bipartisan cosponsors. On July 28, 2010, it passed the U.S. House of Representatives, with the support of Rep. Bill Delahunt (D-MA) and Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), now Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. Despite strong bipartisan support, the bill was blocked in the Senate last year.
“National organizations from across the philosophical spectrum agree that now is the time to launch this comprehensive review of our criminal justice system,” said Senator Webb.
Over the past three years, Senator Webb’s office has engaged in a dialogue about the National Criminal Justice Commission with more than 100 organizations from every political and philosophical perspective, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Heritage Foundation, Sentencing Project, Fraternal Order of Police, NAACP, American Civil Liberties Union, and Prison Fellowship.
Is this the America that our founders envisioned? The ability of senators to block bills is incredibly undemocratic.
I wish Senator Webb hadn’t opted not to run for re-election, he seem like one of the few genuinely reputable guys in the U.S. Congress…
Really, really sorry to see this highly decorated Marine (Navy Cross, Silver Star, 2 Bronze Stars, 2 Purple Hearts) leaving the Senate — what a great yet humble guy:
Senator Jim Webb on Letterman
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mRBtRStLLhw
Turns out it was 43 senators who blocked the National Criminal Justice Commission Act:
Republicans block justice review proposal in Senate
http://politico.com/news/stories/1011/66491.html
Score one for the Prison-Industrial Complex
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prison_industrial_complex
Is this the America that our founders envisioned?
Actually, yes it is.
The purpose of this was to make it HARD to pass laws. Only when those in power agree to something is when those of us at the bottom get shafted because they are only going to agree on something if they are all getting something out of it.
And guess where the “getting” is coming from?
I understand that the Founders added the 2nd Amendment for citizens to protect themselves from any and all thieves, regardless of who those thieves work for.
hell that is nothing compared to this
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2012/04/dhs-considers-collecting-dna-kids-dea-and-us-marshals-already-do
I have nothing against being able to prove that I wasn’t at the scene of a crime.
Get a swab and poke my cheek with it.
I think we should get DNA samples/swabs from infants/newborns and from everybody upon entry into a country. (Fuck your falsifiable travel documents. DNA’s is a little harder to fake, no?)
I think you’d be quite shocked as to how well behaved everybody would be knowing they can’t get away with shit.
Kids, this is the job you get when you make Cs in high school.
on 5/14/2012 at 2:56 pm
“The cop was NOT wrong. Its the LAW that is wrong.” /// This post is about the cop being wrong for seizing the money. To that point, the main point, the obviously relevant point: The cop was NOT wrong. Its the LAW that is wrong.
Was the cop negligent ((I assume intentionally but even if not negligent he should be held to the same standard, and of course, he won’t be BECAUSE it is the LAW that is wrong)) in not including all the relevant information? Of course. But had he done that, the money still would have been seized which was the point, the main point, the obviously relevant point of this posting.
Pro-Hint: when you’ve been charged once already with trafficking in cocaine==best not to drive around in a car with hundred dollar bills rolled up with rubber bands. If you ain’t guilty==you’re still damn stupid.
The “War On Drugs” is responsible, and Nancy Reagan.
We are contributing to instability and corruption in Mexico due to this stupid war. What’s next, Mexico sending drones to the US to control drug usage?
I live in TN and I’m not proud of this. I will note that it pretty much is what I’d expect in _any_ state if you get caught with a large sum of cash.
Slaves beware.
Maybe I’m wrong but I think cash transactions of 10,000 and above are no longer legal? Something to do with Rico?
Of course this is 1:13 AM.
I think that bank transactions… like depositing cash over $10,000. Banks have to inform the FEDs of deposits over $10,000. Deposit $9,999 one day and deposit $9,999 the next day. Feds will never know… There is no law that states I can not give you $20,000 in cash or buy a car in cash or a house..
No no no no. Do not do this!!!
If you purposely break up deposits into smaller amounts to prevent hitting the threshold for mandatory IRS reporting, you are guilty of the crime of “structuring”. Next to forfeiture, this is the up and coming anti-freedom crime.
People have been convicted with structuring even when the money has been proven to be from legal sources. Look up “Johnny Gaskins”.
For the record… we’re all drug dealers in the eye of the law. He should have said he was going to buy a slave. And the redneck officer would have said, “Carry on.”
I don’t want a large farva. I want a goddamn litre o’ cola!
give me my fuckin’ cola before I break VOUS FUCKIN’ LIP!
Just wait till they have drones in the air
It used to be the joke was the fellow had a radar detector in his car as he liked to travel and when he got to a new town – this way he could always find a donut shop quickly.
Now they can call ahead for a take out pizza
Is it true that government officials in Tenn. are starting to fancy “RED COATS”?
Yes and the red coat of Civil Asset Forfeiture is also beloved by government officials in Texas, Georgia, Massachusetts, and about 45 other states.
Big brother makes no mistakes. This criminal should accept his fate. Carrying cash is unacceptable. Drugs are bad. Anything to stop drugs.
The man who had his cash taken made two mistakes during the stop. He didn’t have to answer the officer’s question of how much cash he had on hand. He also shouldn’t have agreed to let the officer search his vehicle when the officer asked for his permission. The police are not there to be your friendly and helpful neighbors. Nothing else should have transpired during that stop except the writing of the speeding ticket.
while I’ll agree with you that both of those things SHOULD have happened to prevent this, I have to ask if you’ve been paying attention to police shenanigans of late? If he had been stopped for a speeding violation, the cop would claim that’s probably cause enough for search of the vehicle. if the man refused, the cop would have either a) arrested him on the spot, accusing him of being uncooperative or b) called for a supervisor and a K-9 unit. With the latter, upon finding the money, they would have taken him to jail in addition to confiscating his money, citing the money and refusal to answer questions as “suspicious activity”. They probably would have tried to saddle him with some conspiracy charge, as well. All of that would easily eat up that $20k he was carrying, even if he got the money released.
For the record, I think it’s kind of strange that this particular guy was asked whether he was carrying large amounts of cash. In all my traffic stops, I’ve never been asked such a question. If he routinely bought cars for cash (the “several bids on eBay” comment) such as for a used car lot, that may show up on invoices that get sent to the state for tax purposes and he may have gotten flagged by someone in the system as an easy target.
When you sign up to become a Police Officer you take a vow to PROTECT and SERVER, not THIEVE and LIE.
This man needs to have his badge taken away, the legislators who passed this bill also need to be stripped of office. Not only is this Theft by someone who’s there to protect you, but they’re basically nullifying your constitutional rights…
“Searches and seizures are used to produce evidence for the prosecution of alleged criminals.”
Yet in the video he says “There was no Criminal charge”
Say what?!
The idiots running that state aren’t thinking ahead. What happens when they’ve manage to kill tourism in their state, because word travels on the internet. Even if the state commerce officials lie that asses off, about this extortion racket. So then what? Ask for emergency assistance from the Federal Gov? Whip up one of those slick “Visit Tennessee” Tv ads? Close off all the roads that can be used to bypass the state. I mean, how long to they think they can screw people, and avoid any consequences? And then what? Say they’re sorry, the folks responsible have all retired or been fired, it’s back to normal in Tenn., please forgive and forget? The citizens of Tennessee better prepare for a long hard economic drought, curiosity of their shortsighted state officials.
And what do you know? I just checked Wikipedia, and it appears that Tennessee State’s Senators and Congressmen are 100% Republican, at present. I guess they feel they can do anything, and the taxpayers will bail their state out, when it becomes the black hole of the nation. Their voters better rethink their party loyalty. Because they’re gonna be labeled the “Friendless State” real soon.
A (tiny) tip of the iceberg.
-s
Why didn’t you arrest him?
“Because he hadn’t committed a criminal law.”
It’s not illegal to carry cash.
“No it’s not. It’s what the cash is being used for to facilitate or being utilised for.”
“He couldn’t prove that it was legitimate”
“If it’s not there I didn’t put it there.”
Is ANYTHING this cop says remotely intelligent??
No.
This is a thief hiding behind his badge. Much like the legislators that passed a clearly unconstitutional law, they hide behind their own rhetoric.
Seems to me that that cop has gang tattoos. Therefore he is in a gang. Therefore he is a drug dealer. Do you now see the slippery slope you travel officer?
Just say no. And jail cops/legislators who violate the constitution.
Wow corruption in some of these police forces is getting out of control in this country.
It’s very clear that everyone needs to know their rights! When someone asks to search your vehicle say “NO!”
The police are not above the law. Someone needs to clean house and fire the corrupt police officers.
true. but from what I’ve been told, that would eliminate 80-90% of the police force
problem solved
On February 8, 2011, I, Senator James Webb of Virginia, re-introduced the National Criminal Justice Commission Act (S. 306), which will create a blue-ribbon commission to look at every aspect of our criminal justice system with an eye toward reshaping the criminal justice system from top to bottom. I believe that it is time to bring together the best minds in America to analyze the criminal justice system in its entirety, to examine its interlocking parts, to learn what works and what does not, and make recommendations for reform.
REFORM AT EVERY LEVEL, BOTTOM TO TOP
39 senators have signed on as well. Keep this conversation alive people. REAL reform of the corrupt justice workers is getting close to Senate passage.
It’s a wonder The Cop did not throw the interviewer to the ground and cave his skull in, for asking such terrible questions to him.
No surprise. Tennessee is one of the three yahoo states along with Mississippi and Alabama. They each compete for most crazy and bigoted award. The cop shown is stereotypical of the fat-ass, liar that make up that shit hole.
Note this is the state that bars schoolkids from holding hands because it may lead to a hug or other crimes.
I generally avoid these conservative, bible thumping bigot states when I travel.
You should probably never visit the city (or state) of your namesake, then. Really. If you live here, leave. If you plan to visit, don’t.
Dallas, like any large metro area is made up of decent, intelligent people. Beyond the suburbs is where the nuttballs live.
Do come visit Dallas and say hello to our lesbian sheriff!
Your fetish with the sexual orientation of others is not germain to the discussion. We do not care if your sheriff is a lesbian.
No but you are going to get it pounded in you head if you like it or not.
Decent, intelligent people, the likes of whom elect and re-elect racist idiots like John Wiley Price to city council?
You’re a waste of precious Texas air, Dallas.
I’m tired of looking for a chart of all the states, but this language is found on most websites: “most states and the Fed Gov have some form of civil forfeiture law”
Its a good example of how laws must be “fairly administered” and the first person with that chance is the cop on the beat. This taking and shifting the burden of proof to the victim/citizens is one valid result of a “war” on drugs. Lots of collateral damage thought to be worth it if you are in a war. Are we? Yes and no depending on what you focus on.
Mother Jones. Haven’t seen them in the news lately as much as a few years ago. Still an excellent short read==and don’t fail to catch the sidebar: “To Big to Jail”==of course, about WallStreet Fraudsters.
http://motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2010/04/civil-asset-forfeiture
Civil Asset Forteiture is truly one of the more onerous aspects of the legal system we inherited form Britain. And how it has evolved to be used, it is all based on the legal fiction that your property is “guilty” of some misdeed. A classic example is if you are caught with a prostitute in your car by a cop and you pay some fine for the misdemenor, you may be free and clear having paid your penaty, but the police can still come back to you after the fact and sieze your car under civil asset forteiture under the guise that your car was a party to the offense and also guilty. And because the key word in CAF is “civil,” the burden of evidence is much lower than in a criminal case.
That “police officer” looks straight off the set of Reno 911.
actually, he looks more like one of the recently dead characters in “Justified”