5 ms·

How is it at all legal for the government to demand payment for something when you are not convicted of a crime? It's effectively a 100% discriminatory, corrupt

by Meegul 10y ago

How is it at all legal for the government to demand payment for something when you are not convicted of a crime? It's effectively a 100% discriminatory, corrupt, and unaccountable tax. Completely reprehensible.

duaneb 10y ago
This isn't even the most absurd part about citizen/cop cash transactions: under civil forfeiture, they can take up to (iirc) $10,000 of your cash no justification or remediation path. Really, all they need is a traffic stop or a (suspect) smell of cannabis in the air.
- SwellJoe 10y ago
  There is no such limit, in most jurisdictions, as far as I know...and, if you happen to be carrying a lot of cash, it is viewed as evidence of wrongdoing. Hell, Oklahoma has begun using a device that allows them to take money from debit cards, as well. My position on police has evolved over the years to the point where I don't even really believe in "good cops", anymore. The entire system seems built to excise honest cops and reward bullies; I can't name a single whistle-blower cop who has kept their job, while the crimes they documented have generally gone entirely unpunished and the perpetrators often remain on the police force. The only reasonable path forward I see is tearing the whole damned system down and starting over, with a focus on prevention, rehabilitation over punishment, restitution when plausible, de-escalation rather than military style raids, and overall a lot better training in psychology and community policing and less training in how to kill and maim people.
  - deleted 10y ago
    [deleted]
trungonnews 10y ago
I didn't pay the cop. I had to pay the towing company. The cop told the towing company to impound my car.
- Meegul 10y ago
  That makes no difference in the end. The police caused you financial harm, with no restitution. They should be held liable for that under civil law.
  - trungonnews 10y ago
    Forgot to say that they also took away my driver license for a whole month. I wish I knew how I can get the tow fee reimbursed.
    - AnimalMuppet 10y ago
      Small claims court might be worth a look. I'm not sure if you can sue a city there, though.
    - markdown 10y ago
      In my country we have a Small Claims Court for situations like this (under USD$2500), where you get to go before a judge and plead your case. There are no lawyers involved and it costs nothing if you handle the entire case yourself or a small amount of money (that you can add to your claim) if you want to pay a bailiff to serve the papers to the defendant for you.
M_Grey 10y ago
Don't forget that the average victim of such a tax can ill afford it, and is the least likely to be able to make their voice heard. ...Which is why the system works the way it does in the first place.

by Meegul 10y ago

duaneb 10y ago

This isn't even the most absurd part about citizen/cop cash transactions: under civil forfeiture, they can take up to (iirc) $10,000 of your cash no justification or remediation path. Really, all they need is a traffic stop or a (suspect) smell of cannabis in the air.

SwellJoe 10y ago
There is no such limit, in most jurisdictions, as far as I know...and, if you happen to be carrying a lot of cash, it is viewed as evidence of wrongdoing. Hell, Oklahoma has begun using a device that allows them to take money from debit cards, as well. My position on police has evolved over the years to the point where I don't even really believe in "good cops", anymore. The entire system seems built to excise honest cops and reward bullies; I can't name a single whistle-blower cop who has kept their job, while the crimes they documented have generally gone entirely unpunished and the perpetrators often remain on the police force. The only reasonable path forward I see is tearing the whole damned system down and starting over, with a focus on prevention, rehabilitation over punishment, restitution when plausible, de-escalation rather than military style raids, and overall a lot better training in psychology and community policing and less training in how to kill and maim people.
- deleted 10y ago
  [deleted]

trungonnews 10y ago

I didn't pay the cop. I had to pay the towing company. The cop told the towing company to impound my car.

Meegul 10y ago
That makes no difference in the end. The police caused you financial harm, with no restitution. They should be held liable for that under civil law.
- trungonnews 10y ago
  Forgot to say that they also took away my driver license for a whole month. I wish I knew how I can get the tow fee reimbursed.
  - AnimalMuppet 10y ago
    Small claims court might be worth a look. I'm not sure if you can sue a city there, though.
  - markdown 10y ago
    In my country we have a Small Claims Court for situations like this (under USD$2500), where you get to go before a judge and plead your case. There are no lawyers involved and it costs nothing if you handle the entire case yourself or a small amount of money (that you can add to your claim) if you want to pay a bailiff to serve the papers to the defendant for you.

M_Grey 10y ago

Don't forget that the average victim of such a tax can ill afford it, and is the least likely to be able to make their voice heard. ...Which is why the system works the way it does in the first place.