Beth Baumann
@eb454
Feb 20, 2019
The Supreme Court on Wednesday made a decision that will crack down on states and localities' civil asset forfeiture, which permit them to take and keep private property used to commit crimes. Under the Eighth Amendment, the federal government is limited in their actions, specifically when it comes to "excessive fines." The Court believes those same limitations apply to the state.
This ruling came under the Timbs v. Indiana case. The case was brought about by Tyson Timbs, who sold $225 worth of heroin to undercover police officers. He pleaded guilty to dealing of a controlled substance and conspiracy to commit theft. According to the New York Times, Timbs was sentenced to one year of house arrest and five years of probation, and he was ordered to pay $1,200 in fees and fines...........To Read More......
My Take - This isn't the first time the courts have ruled against civil asset forfeiture, but the real problem is the police simply ignore it, and it costs a fortune and sometimes years to get the money back. And that's for people who've not committed a crime. You may wish to review some of my posts over the years regarding Civil Asset Forfeiture.
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