Pubdate: Wed, 08 Jul 2015
Source: Orange County Register, The (CA)
Contact:  2015 The Orange County Register
Website: http://www.ocregister.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/321
Author: R. L. Figard
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v15/n365/a04.html

FEDS SHOULD FORFEIT ON ASSET FORFEITURE

Re: "U.S. seeks appeal on money seizure case" [News, July 4]: On 
Independence Day, it was with great sadness that I read about yet 
another police seizure case where the property of an American citizen 
was taken without due process. Straughn Gorman was stopped while 
driving through Nevada and, although he was not arrested, nor even 
issued a traffic ticket, his automobile, money, wallet, cellphone and 
laptop were taken by the police.

This "highway robbery" is a clear violation of Mr. Gorman's Fourth 
Amendment constitutional right against unreasonable searches and 
seizures. Mr. Gorman had to go to court to get his property returned. 
To make this injustice worst, the U.S. attorney in Nevada, Daniel 
Bogden, is now trying to challenge the court ruling so the state can 
keep Mr. Gorman's property.

Unfortunately, too many states have laws that allow police to take 
people's property even if the person is not charged with a crime. How 
these laws are even allowed to exist is very disturbing in a land 
that was built on freedom and liberty.

One has to wonder that, if our founding fathers were alive today, 
what country would they be seeking independence from?

R. L. Figard

Fountain Valley
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom