How Police Departments Use Civil Forfeiture to Collect Billions - Justice - VICE Video 5:08 Police Officer Quote: " You know it's usually based off a need. Well, I take that back.. Their are some limitations on it, but actually it's not really on the forfeiture side.. We usually just base it on something that would be nice to have. That we can't get in the budget for-instance. We try not to use it for things we need to have purchased. It's kind of like pennies from heaven it gets you a new toy or something " - Protect, Serve and Extort
Citizens should demand reform to civil forfeiture laws in their respective states. No conviction, no seizure. When there is a seizure it should not go to the agency that made the arrest. That would reduce the incentive of departments to pad their budget. Utah reformed their laws slightly a few years back, but their legislature came back the next year and put the laws back to what they were. I guess too many Utahans are willing to sacrifice their freedom from government abuse. The cops need new SUVs every year....
Civil forfeiture turns the cops into armed robbers with badges. Policing should not be a 'for profit' enterprise.