American shakedown: Police won't charge you, but they'll grab your money

[unhappycamper]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/american-shakedown-police-won-t-charge-you-but-they-ll-grab-your-money-1.2760736

In the U.S., a cash-grab by police and government is dressed up in terms like “interdiction and forfeiture,” or “the equitable sharing program.”

American shakedown: Police won't charge you, but they'll grab your money
By Neil Macdonald, CBC News Posted: Sep 11, 2014 5:00 AM ET

On its official website, the Canadian government informs its citizens that “there is no limit to the amount of money that you may legally take into or out of the United States.” Nonetheless, it adds, banking in the U.S. can be difficult for non-residents, so Canadians shouldn’t carry large amounts of cash.

That last bit is excellent advice, but for an entirely different reason than the one Ottawa cites.

There’s a shakedown going on in the U.S., and the perps are in uniform.

Across America, law enforcement officers — from federal agents to state troopers right down to sheriffs in one-street backwaters — are operating a vast, co-ordinated scheme to grab as much of the public’s cash as they can; “hand over fist,” to use the words of one police trainer.

[A Little Weird]

1. Sad

I've heard of this happening but thought it was a very rare, isolated kind of thing. It's shameful to think that it's happening often enough that other countries are issuing warnings to their citizens about it.

[CanonRay]

2. Has anyone put together a list of the towns, and counties that are doing this?

so we can avoid them like the plague while traveling? Seriously, I heard about a few towns in east Texas doing this...is there any kind of places to avoid map?

[Dustlawyer]

4. Lived in East Texas most of my life and I haven't been shaken down once, of course I live here.

I see the I-10 troopers and local law enforcement searching people and their cars, primarily blacks, on the side of the interstate frequently. This is all up and down I-10 from Texas to Florida (made the trip hundreds of times in the last several years. I think they profile, there is no way they don't. Out of staters (license plates) are a big tip off for them.

[LittleGirl]

8. I-10 here in AZ

it's driving while Mexican that will get you stopped and searched.

[kelliekat44]

3. Time for the Justice Department or the President to call out these police departments and ask

Congress to pass legislation and laws to prevent this kind of crap and enforcement with harsh penalties including loss of pensions.

[blackspade]

5. Sad, but true.

Cops are gangs with a badge.

[Old Codger]

6. A few days ago

There was another thread on this

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=5504015

[jwirr]

7. Not just the police. I am in debt and cannot go bankrupt because I am a senior and legal aids will

not help me. They said it is illegal for anyone to take my social security so I am safe. EXCEPT that banksters do not always stop social security accounts from being taken for debts. Oh they get it back for you but it could take months. I would have nothing to live on. I moved my social security to DirectExpress which comes directly out of a social security account (the feds) and bypassed the banksters. Hopefully I am now safe. So it is not only the police.

[packman]

9. Several years back

if you traveled I-10 in an expensive car, you got stopped traveling thru Mississippi. The local cops would have their trained dogs sniffing around the car prompting them with hand signals to react to certain cues they would give either orally or with hand signals. Then inform the driver that the dog sniffed drugs and they needed to confiscate the car to investigate further. Had a nice racket going on for themselves on the interstate.