Busted for driving while from Colorado? (Wash)

[LeeRevell]

Years back driving back to NorVa from home in Florida in my Navy days, I drove through a small Southern town. An unmarked car followed me all the way to the city limit. Then he flashed and pulls me over! I asked what I had done?
He says, "Nothing. You were being so careful you looked suspicious!"
First time I ever got stopped for doing everything right! :-)

[Orangepeel]

Originally Posted by pagosajoe

And you may wish to re-read the poster's comment:

"One other point is do not carry large sums of cash. That is a whole nuther thread, but just a warning that if a large sum of cash is discovered, you can loose it without cause. You will never see it again. No legal recourse. There are some areas where the legal confiscation of cash is being exploited to its fullest extent."

There is no way a LEO can take cash "without cause". And I have lots of friends who are LEOs, chiefs of police, state troopers, and detectives. Re-read the articles you cite - full of misrepresentation by those stopped, those who waive their rights to their cash, and other sorts of reasons that the cash was taken - once again, if not legally done FOR CAUSE, then it's robbery. And there's always legal recourse.

N'est-ce pas?

A LEO can always determine a cause if so inclined - we believed they were laundering money, trafficking drugs, etc and confiscate cash found even if the person is not charged with a crime. So the word "illegal" should not have been used in my qualifying statement at the end. That still does not negate the fact that confiscation of cash can occur even though no crime has been committed and one has to fight the system to get it back.

And whoopee-doo that you have friends that are LEO. I have a long line of relatives that are too. Doesn't make either of us better experts.

[bailiff]

CBS had an article on tonight about the April sales tax collected on pot sales. They showed a rolled joint an said the price was $17.. I don't think one could make any money on pot bought in Colorado and sold say here in Florida where a dime bag would role 5-6 joints.

[GENECOP]

Keep the weed hidden and don't smoke while driving.....you'll be fine...

[Daveinet]

Originally Posted by pagosajoe

And you may wish to re-read the poster's comment:

"One other point is do not carry large sums of cash. That is a whole nuther thread, but just a warning that if a large sum of cash is discovered, you can loose it without cause. You will never see it again. No legal recourse. There are some areas where the legal confiscation of cash is being exploited to its fullest extent."

There is no way a LEO can take cash "without cause". And I have lots of friends who are LEOs, chiefs of police, state troopers, and detectives. Re-read the articles you cite - full of misrepresentation by those stopped, those who waive their rights to their cash, and other sorts of reasons that the cash was taken - once again, if not legally done FOR CAUSE, then it's robbery. And there's always legal recourse.

N'est-ce pas?

While by technicality there may be legal recourse, but in a practical sense there is not. One of your biggest problems is finding a lawyer who will fight a true serious case. Yes there are traffic lawyers, but no one who will actually handle a real suit. The state makes sure they business with every law firm out there. That precludes them from fighting your case, due to conflict of interest. They have their bases covered. Sure an upright officer will not take your money, but there are plenty who will. The problem is that it is a civil matter. There is a legal hearing, however you are not the defendant, your money is. The case is against your money, not you, so you can not defend yourself. Your money has no voice, other than the fact of suspicion which can be created by the officer. 80% of all funds confiscated, no charges were brought against the person who lost the money. The problem is that the law works well for upright moral cops, but can be easily exploited by those without morals.

As far as a false dog hit, it happens all the time, however its not necessarily that the hit is really false, but that the chances of your vehicle being contaminated is pretty high. 80% of all cash in circulation is contaminated heavy enough to cause a dog hit. My brother lived in downtown Chicago at the time of his stop. The dog gave a false positive, as no drugs were found - yes, my brother lives a clean life. Most likely the location of where he parks his truck caused the false positive.

The training document I referred to regarding traffic stops is long gone, as this was several years ago, at the time my brother was detained.

[Dogpatch]

Originally Posted by Moonrover

You mean you won't even be cordial and offer the nice policeman a hand rolled smoke? Willie Nelson would.

If I was so inclined, I'd leave the special cigarettes at home if I was traveling outside safe haven! LOL

[courtjester]

Originally Posted by Daveinet

While by technicality there may be legal recourse, but in a practical sense there is not. One of your biggest problems is finding a lawyer who will fight a true serious case. Yes there are traffic lawyers, but no one who will actually handle a real suit. The state makes sure they business with every law firm out there. That precludes them from fighting your case, due to conflict of interest. They have their bases covered. Sure an upright officer will not take your money, but there are plenty who will. The problem is that it is a civil matter. There is a legal hearing, however you are not the defendant, your money is. The case is against your money, not you, so you can not defend yourself. Your money has no voice, other than the fact of suspicion which can be created by the officer. 80% of all funds confiscated, no charges were brought against the person who lost the money. The problem is that the law works well for upright moral cops, but can be easily exploited by those without morals.

As far as a false dog hit, it happens all the time, however its not necessarily that the hit is really false, but that the chances of your vehicle being contaminated is pretty high. 80% of all cash in circulation is contaminated heavy enough to cause a dog hit. My brother lived in downtown Chicago at the time of his stop. The dog gave a false positive, as no drugs were found - yes, my brother lives a clean life. Most likely the location of where he parks his truck caused the false positive.

The training document I referred to regarding traffic stops is long gone, as this was several years ago, at the time my brother was detained.

while I agree with some of your earlier comments, I certainly take issue with the idea that you can't find a lawyer to take on a civil forfeiture case. Happens every day. Most jurisdictions have an abbreviated process if you want to go that way, or you can take it to court. Interestingly, if it happens to end up in court, and you believe the forfeiture was illegal, you can add a civil rights claim to your case and get punitive damages plus attorney fees.

one I worked on years ago was Barlindal v. city of bonney lake. It can be found at 925 P 2d 1289 In that case, it was 200 guns I got back rather than cash, but it works the same.

[Cliffy]

Unfortunately some of us who are pilots of private airplanes have been and are currently being subjected to stops by US Customs at airports far removed from the border region just for stopping in Colorado or flying a long non-stop route and other nefarious reasons. Many of the stops have been with full SWAT teams, automatic weapons pointed and the plane occupants laid out on the ground. The "probable cause" was , "you looked suspicious by the flight you flew". All flights inside the USA are tracked by RADAR. Private and commercial. When they think you look funny they send a Blackhawk and team after you or call the local Sheriff to do it. They have also called airports asking them to report on the flight and not talk about it with anyone.
This has caused such a big issue that Congress has now gotten involved to stop it. It's not over yet.
Most of the 50+ stops that we know about have found nothing wrong. They also use the issue of having to show your license to any LEO as PC for the stop. How would you like to be stopped in your truck just because you have to show your license to a LEO.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not against LEOs at all. I have them in my family including FBI types I am against the US Customs and the way they are handling this issue.

[Doggy Daddy]

Be it with drugs, alcohol, or etc - Just exercise common sense. You alone are responsible for your own decisions be they smart or dumb and the consequences they bring. I am not in favor of fines, incarceration, bail, confiscation, towing or impounding my RV.
As a tool for self protection I recently got a dash cam that can be used to record more than scenery.

[Tyler6357]

Originally Posted by Orangepeel

You may want to read this Forbes article:

Cops Use Traffic Stops To Seize Millions From Drivers Never Charged With A Crime - Forbes

Or this new story:
Judge: Give stripper back $1 million cash seized after traffic stop | NJ.com

Or this one:
http://www.splcenter.org/get-informe...to-splc-client

Or this one:
Judge orders return of cash seized during traffic stop - The Dispatch

Or this one:
Nevada deputy accused of illegal stops, confiscations on I-80 | Las Vegas Review-Journal

Google "cash confiscated in traffic stop" to get more. Illegal confiscations happen and people have to go to court and hope they can get their money back.

Wow, I had no idea this could happen in America. What has happened to our once free country? Thanks for posting this and for all the good advice. I'm done talking to them after "hello, here is my license, registration, and insurance"

[Daveinet]

Originally Posted by courtjester

while I agree with some of your earlier comments, I certainly take issue with the idea that you can't find a lawyer to take on a civil forfeiture case. Happens every day. Most jurisdictions have an abbreviated process if you want to go that way, or you can take it to court. Interestingly, if it happens to end up in court, and you believe the forfeiture was illegal, you can add a civil rights claim to your case and get punitive damages plus attorney fees.

one I worked on years ago was Barlindal v. city of bonney lake. It can be found at 925 P 2d 1289 In that case, it was 200 guns I got back rather than cash, but it works the same.

Everyone's paridym is shaped by their own personal experience. My other brother is ivolved in a civil case against the state, and has had a very hard time getting a lawyer for reasons I sighted. The case has been ongoing for a few years as it has huge implications for states rights.

[BFlinn181]

Here we are at more than 50 posts into the thread, "Busted for driving while from Colorado? (Wash)" and not one personal experience of being stopped for no apparent reason other than Colorado or Washington state plates.

My conclusion is, THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM.

You all may continue with fears of confiscation, intrusive searches and the like, I am out of here.

[ocs]

25 years spent as a State Trooper doing drug interdiction and I can tell you that I knew prior to stopping a car/truck if I intended to search based on several indicators. My conversations with the driver were short and sweet until after the arrest. A guilty person will tell you more with their body then they will ever speak. Don't get me wrong there are some over aggressive police out there but most Troopers are by the book and have their trade honed to perfection. My advise obey the law and chances of you having a bad encounter with the police are slim to none. Jails are full of jailhouse attorneys as are forums.

[Mekanic]

Originally Posted by ocs

25 years spent as a State Trooper doing drug interdiction and I can tell you that I knew prior to stopping a car/truck if I intended to search based on several indicators. My conversations with the driver were short and sweet until after the arrest. A guilty person will tell you more with their body then they will ever speak. Don't get me wrong there are some over aggressive police out there but most Troopers are by the book and have their trade honed to perfection. My advise obey the law and chances of you having a bad encounter with the police are slim to none. Jails are full of jailhouse attorneys as are forums.

100%

I was just a regular small town cop for 7 years.