Christmas is about giving, but so-called "asset forfeiture" programs display government at its Grinchiest. According to the Washington Post, law enforcement took more stuff from people than burglars in 2014. And the forfeiture business is in Texas is booming.
As your Texas legislators prepare their priorities for 2017, tell them to end rogue roadside asset forfeitures. Just Liberty needs your help to bring back the rights we all assume we already have!
Created to go after drug kingpins, asset forfeiture programs have morphed into big money making operations. Most targets are small-timers, and low-income drivers are hardest hit. Many don't bother to hire a lawyer to try and get their money back because the lawyer would cost more than the cash itself. So agencies get to finalize their takings after a judge issues a "default judgment" in favor of the state.
The result has been more departments prioritizing policing for profit over public safety. That must end.
This holiday season, tell the Texas legislature to stop the Grinch! Fix Texas' asset-forfeiture program by requiring a criminal conviction to seize citizens' money or car.
Dear Decisionmakers,
I'm asking you to do everything you can during the 85th Texas Legislature to ensure that Texans don't have their property seized by the government unless prosecutors can prove they've committed a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Seizing property from people who are never charged, much less convicted of crimes, doesn't make us safer.
And the practice has skewed government's priorities away from law enforcement and too much toward profit making.
Without any criminal convictions or even charges, in Texas the government can seize money or property from its owners by implying, but not proving, that the property was involved in a crime. To retrieve it, average citizens must then show in court that their belongings are not connected to criminal activity. Often, seizure amounts are so small that hiring a lawyer to contest the case would cost more than the value of the property.
The lack of due process and blatant disregard for the rule of law is unconscionable and must end now.
Requiring a criminal conviction for the government to seize assets would ensure that the practice focuses on actual criminals, not just targets of opportunity based on the profit motive. Please support legislation in 2017 to require a criminal conviction for asset forfeiture.
Focusing forfeiture on criminals will help return the practice to its original goal of combatting drug kingpins and people who are actually breaking the law. Isn't that what all of us want?
[Your Comment]
Thank you for everything you can do to make sure this happens.
[Your Name]
