The vast, vast majority of Civil Forfeiture law seems to be local governments abusing their power. The story almost always starts with "We were driving across the country when...".
This has been a known problem in a number of small towns scattered across America. We must distinguish between "evil feds" and the "evil locals". In this case, it is clear that state and local laws need to be reformed.
Many states, facing fiscal crises, have expanded the reach of their forfeiture statutes, and made it easier for law enforcement to use the revenue however they see fit. In some Texas counties, nearly forty per cent of police budgets comes from forfeiture. (Only one state, North Carolina, bans the practice, requiring a criminal conviction before a person’s property can be seized.)
This is a state-by-state, county-by-county issue. This can of course be solved by national legislation... but only if we have the political will to pass a national law on the issue. Blaming the issue on 'them feds' is ignorant at best, and harmful to the cause at worst.
There will always be some dumb redneck town that will prey on travelers. America is too large, too vast. And that is where the Federal Government needs to step in and issue a smack-down.
This has been a known problem in a number of small towns scattered across America. We must distinguish between "evil feds" and the "evil locals". In this case, it is clear that state and local laws need to be reformed.
Many states, facing fiscal crises, have expanded the reach of their forfeiture statutes, and made it easier for law enforcement to use the revenue however they see fit. In some Texas counties, nearly forty per cent of police budgets comes from forfeiture. (Only one state, North Carolina, bans the practice, requiring a criminal conviction before a person’s property can be seized.)
This is a state-by-state, county-by-county issue. This can of course be solved by national legislation... but only if we have the political will to pass a national law on the issue. Blaming the issue on 'them feds' is ignorant at best, and harmful to the cause at worst.
There will always be some dumb redneck town that will prey on travelers. America is too large, too vast. And that is where the Federal Government needs to step in and issue a smack-down.