Shake Down on the Bus

[talltex]

Lot's of things get seized that stretch the intentions of the law. For the last couple of years the Sheriff's department in Waco has been running prostitution "sting" operations regularly where they set up in motels with deputies placing ads on Craigslist and setting up appointments to meet for sex. The "johns" that show up are arrested and charged with solicitation--a misdemeanor offense-- but they have been confiscating the "perps" vehicles using the justification that they were involved in a "human trafficking" operation. That is a pretty big stretch to me, since there was not actually anyone engaging in any sexual activity. The department auctions off the seized vehicles and keeps the cash. In one recent sting they confiscated 17 vehicles over a weekend operation--that's a pretty big payday even if the vehicles only averaged $3-4 grand each. I don't believe that was the intent of the statute. On 2/19/18, after a 4 week undercover sting operation, the department announced they were ranked 5th in the U.S. for # of prostitution arrests during their "john's suppression initiative".

[RogueUSMC]

you know? If my name was 'John'...

[stash]

Am I correct in thinking, if you have 10K or less in your possession and have done nothing wrong are you good to go?

[Soccerdad1995]

Am I correct in thinking, if you have 10K or less in your possession and have done nothing wrong are you good to go?

No, you are not correct in that thinking. Here is a little light reading for you.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/08/12/taken

Most cases involve less than $10,000 in cash and seizures can include other assets. If your son sells $20 worth of drugs to a friend in his room, you can lose your house. If you violate a minor traffic law (driving in the left lane in the case of the above article), you get a choice of losing all your cash or having your kids taken away from you. Anyone who tells you that we don't need the second amendment is either corrupt or stupid.

[BBYC]

People who have less to steal probably have less resources to hire a lawyer to contest the theft in court. Most bullies are cowards at heart after all.

[MechAg94]

Am I correct in thinking, if you have 10K or less in your possession and have done nothing wrong are you good to go?

No, you are not correct in that thinking. Here is a little light reading for you.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2013/08/12/taken

Most cases involve less than $10,000 in cash and seizures can include other assets. If your son sells $20 worth of drugs to a friend in his room, you can lose your house. If you violate a minor traffic law (driving in the left lane in the case of the above article), you get a choice of losing all your cash or having your kids taken away from you. Anyone who tells you that we don't need the second amendment is either corrupt or stupid.

I really hate articles that force you to skip multiple paragraphs to finally get to the point. I don't need the entire life history of the people involved.

Sounds like the first lesson for the rest of us is NEVER give consent for a search. After that, NEVER sign anything just to avoid jail or other threats. It WILL be used against you in court later whether criminal or civil.

Other than that, it sounds like the modern day speed trap. Wonder if any of our noble state legislators would be willing to introduce a bill barring state and local police from doing it.

[spectre]

Other than that, it sounds like the modern day speed trap. Wonder if any of our noble state legislators would be willing to introduce a bill barring state and local police from doing it.

A speed trap usually doesn't ticket people who aren't speeding. This is more like a modern day highwayman.