Civil Asset Forfeiture is Used Only on Drug Dealers, Right?
Or So We Were Told...
We wish, the practice of shaking down people in the practice known as "Policing for Profit" is entering a new phase. The excuse used to be that the money or property was guilty of being used in drug trafficking. Now running a food cart means the cops can shut you down and strip you of cash, drain any debit cards, and seize property before you are even charged with a crime much less be convicted.
This story gives the details of a guy running an unlicensed food cart, selling hot dogs at a sports event, when a local policeman walks up, shuts him down, and steals all of his cash. It seems a ticket is in order, even shutting the vendor down till he is legally permitted and inspected by the Health Department. But does it allow a cop to search a guy's wallet and seize all of his cash?
The victim is probably an illegal alien but allowing corrupt police to prey upon illegals just spreads the corruption. First it was drug dealers, then businessmen and ordinary people who were carrying cash, now if you are pulled over for a speeding ticket is it going to mean vehicle confiscation and being robbed on the side of the highway?
