Be careful carrying cash when traveling through TN, police may take it.

[Tim_T]

Somebody posted about this tactic (not this story, but a different one) on another board I frequent. Seems like it was about a year ago. Somebody needs to keep appealing this until it reaches the SCOTUS. There is no way that is not a violation of your rights.

[RoadToad]

Wow! So much for the Fourth Amendment! That needs to be stopped!

[waterdog101]

that officer, reminds me of my neighbor. that's a police officer. several times I've been stopped at a traffic light, waiting for it to turn and here would come my neighbor cop, turn his lights on and hit his siren. go on through the light. I have to pass his house to get to mine. and the way he went through the light, one would think he was on a call for an emergency, but when I got to his house his car was in his driveway. I don't care if he is a cop, that's not right. using the cop car to keep from stopping at the traffic light like every one else.

[Devils Horse]

The worst part of the whole article was at the bottom. Taking money in exchange for dropping charges is clear cut police corruption/extortion. The people of TN should do something about this, but I doubt anything happens. Federal and local law enforcement officers can summarily confiscate property as well when it comes to 'suspicion' of drugs.

I respect the police, they have a difficult job, but giving any government agency too much power is a slippery slope. I can't watch any of the cop shows on TV, gets me too pissed off. They yell Police, then batter someone's door down 5 seconds later. They come swarming in, guns drawn screaming at the top of their lungs and expect total submission. Surprises me more people aren't hurt.

We have given up way too much freedom in the name of the war on drugs, and our freedom continues to erode under anti-terrorism measures.

Homeland Security is one of the scariest governmental outfits going. They can do virtually anything they want in the name of 'national security'.

[DJD]

The worst part of the whole article was at the bottom. Taking money in exchange for dropping charges is clear cut police corruption/extortion. The people of TN should do something about this, but I doubt anything happens. Federal and local law enforcement officers can summarily confiscate property as well when it comes to 'suspicion' of drugs.

I respect the police, they have a difficult job, but giving any government agency too much power is a slippery slope. I can't watch any of the cop shows on TV, gets me too pissed off. They yell Police, then batter someone's door down 5 seconds later. They come swarming in, guns drawn screaming at the top of their lungs and expect total submission. Surprises me more people aren't hurt.

We have given up way too much freedom in the name of the war on drugs, and our freedom continues to erode under anti-terrorism measures.

Homeland Security is one of the scariest governmental outfits going. They can do virtually anything they want in the name of 'national security'.

I agree Jim. Law enforcement is a tough job and they have good and bad employees like any profession. That being said the gubment has conditioned the public to think they have all the rights and we can only submit to their greatness. The IRS, DEA and pretty much anything Federal scares me. Folks with power and billions of dollars backing their play and how they interpret the laws set forth by them can be bad for the average tax paying citizen.
If your one of the law makers your pretty much above the law. The rest of us are not.

[bassin_bug]

That crap has been going on for the past 35 years that I know of in Monterey, Crossville, and Cookeville, TN. Speed traps are also a problem. A cop stops you alleging the driver is speeding, (don't argue with him or he will increase the speed and make you pay more money) has him/her pay on the spot IN CASH, and the cop steals part or all of the money. There are still moonshine operations going on in Monterey, some of the stills are owned by the cops and others are robbed by the cops.

I really thought that, after all this time, cops had stopped their "highway robbery."
I'm going to use SLP's information and email it to my husband. He has been gone since the first of the year and will be coming home next weekend for a few days. He always travels with a substantial amount of money, has an out of state tag, and will be traveling across almost the entire length of the state of TN. Thanks for the information.

[roadrunner]

Yes Bug give him a heads up on this it would ruin his visit and I'm sure you are both excited to see each other.

[Tom523]

Wow! So much for the Fourth Amendment! That needs to be stopped!

He gave them permission to search his car. Don't ever give them permission.

[Devils Horse]

He gave them permission to search his car. Don't ever give them permission.

When your dealing with a vehicle search, permission is a joke. If they want to, they are going to find a reason to search your car, and there's really nothing you can do about it. I'm sure they guy in question knew this, and went ahead and told them about the money.

[Tim_T]

He gave them permission to search his car. Don't ever give them permission.

Yes because it is so much better to sit for two hours detained at your vehicle while a judge signs a warrant.

[RoadToad]

He gave them permission to search his car. Don't ever give them permission.

So he gave them permission to search (the logic of which others have pointed out). Nevertheless, his Fourth Amendment right against unreasonable seizure was violated! Those cops seem to think this is Russia during the Cold War, not the USA in the 21st Century.