Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever - Jalopnik Comments

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

Hello_Newman — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 21:16:21 EST

Yeah that's right, carry a quarter of a million dollars around and it's so likely that it wasn't gotten legally that you have to show how you got it. They can't keep it if it's legal, he wasn't charged with anything, he just had to show all that cash was legally gotten.

Hello_Newman

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

Saboth — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 11:05:15 EST

@Aaron Martin-Colby:

I kind of agree with you. Seems like Law enforcement's take is: "We judge this money to be criminal unless you can prove it was gained by legal means".

Innocent until proven guilty my ass.

Saboth

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

drewheyman — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 10:23:52 EST

This is a (common) American law. More than $10,000, and if you can't explain it expediently, then the cops have the right to seize it under the RICO Act.

drewheyman

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

eltonito — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 10:22:09 EST

Here's the original article on the incident/seizure from September...
[seattletimes.nwsource.com]

In short, he was pulled over for going 11 miles over the speed limit, he seemed confused when asked questions and he claimed he'd won the money at nearly 2 dozen casinos across several states. WA authorities were suspicious and asked for proof or receipts, which he was unable to provide.

Since casinos are required to report winnings above a certain amount ($1000ish?) his story seems somewhat doubtful. Assuming he won just under the reportable amount at 24 different casinos, you'd think his lawyer would be requisitioning security cam footage of him celebrating in the aisles of the slots at at least a dozen casinos. But no, neither he or his lawyer ever turned back up for the cash.

So yeah, the police seizure is sketchy but so is guys story.

eltonito

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

smokeydog001 — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 10:10:05 EST

Maybe he was just too embarrassed to tell them it was Asian campaign contributions for Hillary.

smokeydog001

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

dolo54 — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 10:06:32 EST

Seriously? In Canada you have to explain where you got your money from or they can just take it? Granted I don't know the laws in Canada, but that doesn't sound right.

dolo54

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

cgraham — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 09:38:43 EST

schnozberries do, in fact, taste like schnozberries.

cgraham

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

Buckster — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 09:14:42 EST

Shenanigans

Buckster

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

weatherman — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 08:54:18 EST

What happened to the idea that the government has to prove that you're doing something wrong before there is a penalty? Seizure laws are out of control in this country. And just because it's "law" doesn't make it right - many jurisdictions have created laws that are really there just to feed state coffers, particularly those of the police. It's a case of the fox guarding the henhouse. Many of these laws don't even require conviction of a crime, where "beyond a reasonable doubt" would be the standard, instead invoking a civil seizure action, which has a much lower standard and simply enforces an unjust law. And this affects Jalopniks in particular, since many of these laws are about seizing cars.

weatherman

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

eltonito — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 08:46:52 EST

@lascauxcaveman: Did y'all import all of your law enforcement from 'Nawlins? Or is this one of those instances of upper-middle class suburbs hopping on the Southern bandwagon of grits, bluegrass and chitlin's?

Goshedang Starbuckian city-types 're stealin' our kult-chure!

eltonito

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

eltonito — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 08:40:45 EST

@cgraham: The original article is very light on details, but there are several scenarios where they could've legally confiscated the cash. Then there's whatever local laws or state laws that cover briefcases of cash in WA of which I am not aware.

But the real issue is the driver claiming it fell from the heavens into his car. From the law enforcement perspective, it wasn't his money as he was unaware of it and failed to claim ownership.

Hell, maybe it was a rental car and his response to the police when they pulled him over was "I just rented this thing and haven't put anything in the trunk, but you can search it anyway." Again, lack of details in the news article leaves it wide open to interpretation.

eltonito

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

cgraham — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 07:13:14 EST

@lascauxcaveman: REALLY? You're not able to drive around wtih gobs of cash, just because? I know that you can only take so much cash with you on a plane, but you're not allowed to have a redwoods worth of green paper in a breifcase in your car? I am being serious here...I am surprised.

cgraham

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

lascauxcaveman — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 02:32:48 EST

@Aaron Martin-Colby: Y'all be sure to checks the laws of our fair state before you come on up this way, y'heah? Best keep that withdrawl receipt from the bank handy if'n ya plan on payin' cash for that Seattle condo.

lascauxcaveman

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

Aaron Martin-Colby — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 02:22:26 EST

Is that even legal? If they couldn't tie it to anything illegal, it's his own damned prerogative to wander about with a quarter-mil in his car. Just because someone is acting suspicious doesn't mean the cops can do whatever they please. Whether it's drug money or not, the cops had no right.

Aaron Martin-Colby

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

RoninianHoon — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 23:48:25 EST

So what happened to the other 23k? oops maybe I've said to much...

RoninianHoon

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

biminitwst — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 21:45:56 EST

Since the Canadian dollar is currently worth approximately 1.5 USA dollars, the poor guy probably was headed to WalMart in Seattle to buy as much 'cold medicine' as he could before the value of our dollar drops even further.

biminitwst

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

danio3834 — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 21:19:05 EST

The Bees! The Bees!

danio3834

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 20:41:23 EST

No, no, no...! Obviously that gentleman had just won the International Internet Lottery, and had just cashed his award check mailed from Nigeria...! Why, according to my e-mail, I win that lottery two or three times a week!

Charles_Barrett - Now with Variable-Valve Timing

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

dculberson — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 20:37:06 EST

So I'm gonna need that hundred and fifty bucks.. whenever you can.

dculberson

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

M0L0TOV — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:48:41 EST

@karmavore:
You boys like Mex-i-co? Yee- Haww!.

M0L0TOV

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

SeanKHotay — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:44:09 EST

@SeanKHotay: ChickenF@&r! Can't get an image to show...I need a mustache ride...

SeanKHotay

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

SeanKHotay — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:24:26 EST

@SeanKHotay: Errr....try this:

SeanKHotay

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

SeanKHotay — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:23:08 EST

@BSAKat:

SeanKHotay

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

jerrt — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:19:42 EST

super troopers is, for the 3rd time, the movie of the moment at my house.

"littering and... littering and.... littering and.... littering and.... smoking the reefer!"

jerrt

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

BSAKat — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:02:34 EST

@Brian B:
We can't stop here, this is bat country!

BSAKat

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

Brian B — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 18:28:10 EST

"We were 24.14 kilometers outside Vancouver when the drugs started kicking in..."

Brian B

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

LTDScott, Porcubimmer pilot — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 18:19:03 EST

"We're on a mission from God."

LTDScott, Porcubimmer pilot

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

karmavore — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 18:08:43 EST

meow what's in the case, sir?

karmavore

Cops Keeping $277K Seized From Traffic Stop, To Buy Darkest Glasses Ever

M0L0TOV — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 18:06:29 EST

Gosh guys, that money came from selling Lilo some nose candy. I reckon local law enforcement officials are giving themselves a pat on the back and expanding Dunkin Donut days to five days a week instead of three.

M0L0TOV