>>Somehow the whole idea of "asset forfeiture" reminds me of the Dire Straits' line "we have legalized robbery". No due process, no burden of proof, just having cash in your car is enough?
>>If that's not police state, I don't know what is.
>
>Dragan, you cut right to the heart of the matter.
>
>Years ago, I knew a guy who had lived in Mexico for a few years.
>He said the Federales (Mexican Federal Police) broke into his house, accused him of crimes, and then stole all his cash and valuables.
>I was so glad I lived in the good old USA where that could never happen..
>
>Now the only difference I see is that the Federales at least had enough sense of shame to lie about what they were doing.
>Our regime has lost all moral authority.

I have a friend that got caught up in an "asset forfeiture". He had $8.000 cash in his car with him because he was driving to another city with his brother to buy a car he'd found for sale online, and got pulled over on the highway (for speeding I think). One of the things the cop asked him was if he was carrying any money. Well despite the fact he had a bunch of emails he showed the cop, phone logs of him talking to the seller, picture of the ad, even the withdraw slip form his bank - the dirty cop still stole all his money. And he never got it back either. There is no presumption of innocence under civil asset forfeiture laws. When government agencies are given a profit motive to seize private property, abuses are inevitable. Civil forfeiture is no different.