Asset Forfeiture Drives Justice Department’s License Plate Tracking

http://www.newsweek.com/asset-forfeiture-drives-justice-departments-license-plate-tracking-302621

According to the newly uncovered documents, the primary goal of the program is to seize assets, such as cars and cash, to combat drug trafficking. But former and current officials told the Journal that the database’s use has expanded to hunt for automobiles associated with a slew of other crimes.

Asset forfeiture has been widely covered in the news in recent months after a Washington Post investigation showed that police have seized almost $2.5 billion in cash from drivers without search warrants or indictments since September 11, 2001. In April 2013, for example, two professional poker players had $100,000 seized by Iowa state troopers at a traffic stop on their drive home to California. The troopers had no warrant but suspected the men may be involved in drug trafficking.

Asset forfeitures often go toward paying for salaries, equipment and perks in many jurisdictions. The American Civil Liberties Union contends that, “when salaries and perks are on the line, officers have a strong incentive to increase the seizures, as evidenced by an increase in the regularity and size of such seizures in recent years.” Federally, it provides a stream of revenue.

Though Attorney General Eric Holder’s new policy to limit the practice was met with praise earlier this month, further analysis of the policy’s language shows the limits will only apply to a small number of cases, meaning the database can continue to be used for warrantless asset forfeitures.

Filed under: General Problems