Legal Commentary

"Highway Piracy" Alleged by Lawmakers in Texas Forfeitures

By Jeralyn

Here's how forfeiture works in Texas: The cops take your money and property. They make you sign a form that if you relinquish the property, they won't file criminal charges against you.

As one lawmaker says:

“The idea that people lose their property but are never charged and never get it back, that’s theft as far as I’m concerned,” he said.

One mayor, in an attempt to justify the policy, says the cities need the money -- they may get an extra police car out of it.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on February 09, 2009 (boomark / email).