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This is the tip of the iceberg. How about we talk about outright authoritarian theft like civil forfeiture where they seize your assets and threaten you with fa

This is the tip of the iceberg. How about we talk about outright authoritarian theft like civil forfeiture where they seize your assets and threaten you with fake charges if you plan to appeal it. We would call this a fascist dictatorial authoritarian practice if it was in another country caught in the crosshairs of the empire: https://www.forbes.com/sites/instituteforjustice/2015/03/19/the-dea-is-seizing-cash-without-warrants-in-its-version-of-stop-and-frisk/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/instituteforjustice/2015/03/19/...

vanattab 5y ago
While I agree that civil forfeiture needs addressed, police theft is way worse in some places. I am currently staying in mexico city and last night I was eating dinner at a restaurant with the group I am traveling with and stepped away from my table to smoke a cigarette to avoid bothering the people around me. I had a beer my hand and was like 4ft outside of the dining area where my group was sitted eating and drinking. A cop approached me and demanded to take me to the police station for open container, unless of course I paid a him 2,000 peso. Never even bothered to ask for my id.
- jazzyjackson 5y ago
  what’s your id got to do with breaking open container laws? having a steep fine for breaking the rules is not on the same level of theft as confiscating cash on the mere suspicion of breaking the rules
  - curryst 5y ago
    It's not a fine, it's a bribe. I don't think I've ever heard of a jurisdiction where you pay the officer who is ticketing you.
    - thehappypm 5y ago
      It's funny because a bribe seems more efficient. The incentives are more aligned: the cop wants to be paid, and the cop wants you to not break law (open container). Rather than giving you a ticket, triggering a long process, the cop simply gets paid for stopping the crime at the source, being paid by the criminal directly!

vanattab 5y ago

While I agree that civil forfeiture needs addressed, police theft is way worse in some places. I am currently staying in mexico city and last night I was eating dinner at a restaurant with the group I am traveling with and stepped away from my table to smoke a cigarette to avoid bothering the people around me. I had a beer my hand and was like 4ft outside of the dining area where my group was sitted eating and drinking. A cop approached me and demanded to take me to the police station for open container, unless of course I paid a him 2,000 peso. Never even bothered to ask for my id.

jazzyjackson 5y ago
what’s your id got to do with breaking open container laws? having a steep fine for breaking the rules is not on the same level of theft as confiscating cash on the mere suspicion of breaking the rules
- curryst 5y ago
  It's not a fine, it's a bribe. I don't think I've ever heard of a jurisdiction where you pay the officer who is ticketing you.
  - thehappypm 5y ago
    It's funny because a bribe seems more efficient. The incentives are more aligned: the cop wants to be paid, and the cop wants you to not break law (open container). Rather than giving you a ticket, triggering a long process, the cop simply gets paid for stopping the crime at the source, being paid by the criminal directly!