Attorney General Eric Holder stops local and state police from using federal law to seize personal p

originally posted by: Mountainmeg
Yep, had to check my calendar because I don't think it's April Fool's Day yet. Holder does something I agree with, who woulda thunk? I am curious as to what percentage of asset seizures this would affect since it's only the ones associated with the feds. That still leaves bully local & state stops.

While police can continue to make seizures under their own state laws, the federal program was easy to use and required most of the proceeds from the seizures to go to local and state police departments. Many states require seized proceeds to go into the general fund.

I think you nailed it!

It's like a drug dealer getting someone hooked on it's wares!

So here is the FEDs saying they will stop doing it, but yet they have states dependent on their policies! So in other words, business as usual?

originally posted by: seeker1963

originally posted by: feldercarb
a reply to: TheArrow

I don't think that will end up being a good solution. It is already being reported that the marijuana being sold today is in the neighborhood of being 30 times more potent than that smoked in the '60s. Also, we don't need people high on PCP to be in a position where they can hurt somebody. Sometimes, laws do have a reason behind them.

Look at Afghanistan and the cash crop the US government is protecting there, and then take a look at the growing heroin problem in the country and ask yourself, "Is there really a war on drugs?"!

See, most people leave out a very important punctuation mark when referring to the War On Drugs™. It's really "War, On Drugs."

originally posted by: LOSTinAMERICA
Good deal. There's good news one day a year now. I am wondering how this is going to become a # storm. I know no good can come from Holder. There is an ulterior motive. People died because of Holder. I'll always remember the fast and the furious. He doesn't get an out. He can't bribe me by doing the right thing. The right thing is going to prison.

State and local government are going to make seizures acceptable. The fed looks like a good guy and the state and local governments get paid. Good cop bad cop is getting old. Then there's the flip side. Maybe the fed wants the state and local government to bite. They roll out a federal police force to clean corruption up. After the corruption is cleaned up, the boots are on your throat. I'm not cheering just yet.

THIS^
You nailed it. The States aren't going to give up this cash willingly. First all the local pd's got military gear and lee way in using it, now the feds are going to back up and wave their hands like they never had their fingers in this from the get-go. There is something we're not seeing with Holder, aside from the law of unintended consequences of this law, which will be it's own little drama I say this needs some serious scrutiny.

That being said, his history makes me wonder when the other shoe will drop, and what it will be...


Could be a much bigger plan coming in, how about neighbourhood cops to robocops? It doesn't make sense that power would be seized at the moment when they are planning to take more freedom and liberty then ever on an unprecedented scale according to this article posted yesterday. Maybe it should be a thread on its own! freedomoutpost.com... If there is any truth to this, we are all in serious trouble.

Yeah......at first glance this seems really great, but I fear there's something more sinister below the surface here.

Since the Feds still have the ability to seize property without due process, isn't this rather hypocritical ?

While the new policy will have no effect on the federal government or joint task forces from continuing to seize the property of innocent Americans with nothing more than a suspicion, it is certainly a good first step towards a more just policy.
Read more at thefreethoughtproject.com...

It should have NEVER been allowed in the 1st place by either State or Federal Government as it is blatantly unconstitutional and in direct opposition of the 4th amendment. Something "fishy" about this!

originally posted by: TrueBrit
a reply to: infolurker

Bloody hell!

I did not think I would see the day when any person in power managed to actually pull their finger out and put a foot down on the neck of this disgraceful practice! I am sure Holder is still a moron for many reasons, but this is a step in the right direction if you ask me!

Just wish the UK would follow suite.

Could it be that Holder is actually allowing more Liberal high crime areas to keep more?

Low crime areas don't yield that much anyway.

Maybe the Democrats are keeping the money in safer places before a possible 2016 slaughterhouse.

a reply to: infolurker

It does not prevent State and local seizures. It just no longer allows them to use the Federal law to do it.

There are fundamental differences in what the feds can do per case law and what states can do.

As an example there is a difference in what can be entered into evidence during criminal prosecutions when evidence is seized from abandoned vehicles. The federal standard is lower than the states.

As for this Federal seizure would allow state agencies to use the items / money recovered where as state laws generally require seized money to go to schools.

a reply to: infolurker

Gas prices falling and now Holder acting almost human.
Maybe an american president doesn't want to go out
being a complete american idiot.

Holder’s decision allows limited exceptions, including illegal firearms, ammunition, explosives and property associated with child pornography, a small fraction of the total. This would eliminate virtually all cash and vehicle seizures made by local and state police from the program.

Get ready for your property taxes to go up.

Then get ready for your federal taxes to go up.

How 'noble' of Holder !

Holder does nothing for the benefit of us little people, just like his boss.

a reply to: neo96

why would taxes go up? I mean aside from the fact Obama is pushing tax increases.

a reply to: Xcathdra

This would eliminate virtually all cash and vehicle seizures made by local and state police from the program.

Because those seizures fund a great deal of law enforcement.

a reply to: neo96

Those seizures under Federal Law don't account for a lot of state action though. As I stated before there are still the state laws that allow it.

Neither of which affect taxes.

Let me put it this way...

I agree with you and others that some laws should not exist that specifically benefit Law enforcement in this matter. With that said the impact is not what its being made out to be. This is nothing but inside politics from the DOJ to states. Most likely as punishment for their refusal to hold foreign nationals beyond 24-48 hours for immigration and for those states who have issues with the DOJ and their inability to enforce federal laws.

This is nothing more than a big middle finger from Holder to state / local law enforcement.

a reply to: Xcathdra

Those seizures under Federal Law don't account for a lot of state action though. As I stated before there are still the state laws that allow it.

Alrightie then.

I guess Holder, and his boss will just stick to doing the same thing to them evil rich folks instead of drug dealers, and other criminals.

Where them evil rich people haven't committed any crime other than being good with their money.