Here we go again with asset forfeiture laws

[John61CT]

One day cash itself will be banned.

Sure hope we have a fine government full of dedicated altruistic public servants by then.

 

[John61CT]

Excellent detailed analysis of these issues, including state-by-state rankings:

http://ij.org/report/policing-for-profit/grading-state-federal-civil-forfeiture-laws/

The disturbing most current issue is that even when state governments are trying to curb the worst abuses, the Feds (under Sessions for at least a little longer, will his replacement have a more enlightened attitude?) are re-activating legal loopholes that allow the local departments to bypass the intended restrictions; see the first few of my posts in the thread.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

BTW, on the subject of hidden compartments, it ain't just us.  A Google search on "hidden compartments in cars in Canada"  turns up news reports of such laws being passed in British Columbia and Alberta 7 or 8 years ago.  They're not just looking for drugs, they're looking for gun smugglers, too.  This will affect anyone who crosses the border to drive up to Alaska or for any other reason.

 

[user 37446]

BTW, on the subject of hidden compartments, it ain't just us.  A Google search on "hidden compartments in cars in Canada"  turns up news reports of such laws being passed in British Columbia and Alberta 7 or 8 years ago.  They're not just looking for drugs, they're looking for gun smugglers, too.  This will affect anyone who crosses the border to drive up to Alaska or for any other reason.

You sir, are completely correct!  For the few to whom it matters, here's BC's law from 2010:

"[font=Myriad-Pro, Calibri, Arial, 'sans serif']After-Market Compartments[/font]

[font=Myriad-Pro, Calibri, Arial, 'sans serif']An “after-market compartment” is a compartment in a vehicle which is not included in the original design and which is installed in a vehicle after it’s manufactured. Under the Armoured Vehicle and After-Market Compartment Control Act and Regulation, it is illegal to own, operate or use a vehicle that contains an after-market compartment.
This prohibition does not apply to storage compartments or safes designed for after-market installation and sold by automotive or security equipment vendors. However, these compartments or safes must not be incorporated into a vehicle in a manner that is not intended by the manufacturer.
If you install an after-market compartment in a vehicle, you must contact the police immediately and provide:[/font]

• The name and address of the owner of the vehicle
• The make, model and year of the vehicle
• Where in the vehicle the compartment has been placed and how the compartment can be opened

A business that fails to report an after-market compartment installation could face a fine up to $100,000. An individual who fails to report an installation could face a fine up to $10,000 and six months in jail. Additional fines can also be issued under the Offence Act."

 

[John61CT]

Oh my Buddha.

“The future is already here. It’s just not evenly distributed yet” — William Gibson

One of my favorite authors, and a great prognosticator

 

[Grizzly708]

*sigh* The good news is that it is still pretty rare. I have only known one person who had their assets seized. It was 25 years ago when I was in college in Sault Ste Marie. Some friends went over to Canada because Soo Ontario is the bigger town and they went to the mall. One of the kids bought a bong from a head shop. The person who was driving was not driving their own car and the person who bought the bong did so without telling the driver of the car but then declared it (as you are supposed to do) and then the car was seized. The owners of the car (the driver's parents) got it back though but only because they had the resources to hire an attorney and take it to court.

Lake Siberia. ...lol. haven't been there in eons.

 

[John61CT]

Canadians are being warned about 'proper behavior' for traveling safely in the US. Safe from the US law enforcement community that is!
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/world/a...-they-ll-grab-your-money-1.2760736[/quote]And many Muslim nations are advising citizens to avoid the US if they want to abide by their normal dress language and customs.

I doubt if many would say such fears are unjustified.

http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/loc...rrested-while-trying-to-deposit-check-in-bank

Unfortunately most American citizens "traveling while brown" don't have such options

 

[Almost There]

Canadians are being warned about 'proper behavior' for traveling safely in the US. Safe from the US law enforcement community that is!
http://www.cbc.ca/beta/news/world/a...rge-you-but-they-ll-grab-your-money-1.2760736

Guy

And yet another reason why I don't carry a lot of cash with me. I very rarely have more than a hundred bucks on me and certainly no more than $200.00 unless I just won big at the casino....

BTW, that article is from 2014 so it's not new news at all! And it's bullshit that banking in the US is difficult...heck the Cdn bank even gave me a credit card with a higher limit on it than they would give me for my Cdn account.... Getting a bank account say with 'smalltown US bank' would be a littel more problematic but why bother when all of the big Cdn banks have US affiliates.

It reminds me of the scare tactics the media employed when the US and Cdn border computers were linked a couple of years ago. There was a great hullabaloo about how you now had to file with the IRS. There was also a big stink about people being investigated for not abiding by the rules for colleciting their Old Age Security. The regulations had been in place for decades, it was nothing new at all. It just became easier for the 2 governments to track how long you'd been in the US and how long you'd been out of Canada. if you were failing to abide by the rules, THEN you could be in trouble but for the vast majority of us, it was just more paperwork...  

BTW, it's a 4 page form for the IRS to avoid having to file a US income tax return that wouldn't net them any money anyways because of the higher taxes in Canada and you're allowed to be out of Canada for up to six months less a day to stay in good standing with the OAS regs.

Nothing to worry oneself about!

 

[John61CT]

The recent update articles are indeed recent, and the issue is still very relevant, until the SC declares such behavior unconstitutional.

Without strict conditions that actually limit seizures to genuine criminals.

Which to me means after a conviction for first-timers, and at least the indictment for all.

 

[Queen]

A little glimmer of hope here in my home state of Illinois:

https://www.apnews.com/0cc5b3700194...-law-tightening-civil-forfeiture-requirements