[mattduke]

Anastasio Prieto of El Paso gave a state police officer at the weigh station permission to search the truck to see if it contained "needles or cash in excess of $10,000," according to the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed the federal lawsuit Thursday.

Prieto told the officer he didn't have any needles but did have $23,700.

Officers took the money and turned it over to the DEA. DEA agents photographed and fingerprinted Prieto over his objections, then released him without charging him with anything.

Chron

[TommyJefferson]

This happens frequently in Texas because we have so may people with Latin American cultural backgrounds.

They do not trust banks. They are less likely to use "normal" banking mechanisms such as electronic funds transfers and checks. So, they carry large amounts of cash to purchase things like vehicles.

Socialist governments do not respect property rights. Socialist governments know that what is 'yours' actually belongs to the collective, and will use violence to take an individual's property whenever they desire it. That is a fact of life. Americans voted for socialism. The destruction of our property rights is to be expected.

[Roccland]

I had dinner last week with a Phoenix cop and his wife...I asked him some questions -

1) would you confiscate money from someone you stopped if they did not break the law...his answer was no.

2) do Phoenix cops carry AR15s in their cars (as Alex Jones would have you think) - his answer was no.

Not saying this does not happen just relaying what a cop told me last week.

[paimei01]

Large amounts of cash instead of an electronic card, means freedom to go wherever you want, and buy whatever you want , leaving no trace
Soon it will be illegal to leave no trace

[Tyler_JC]

There is a law that requires you to report any cash withdrawals over $10,000 to the IRS but if you can account for the money, no one bothers you.

This law was put in place in order to crack down on money laundering, drug trafficking, tax evasion, etc.

The form is a pain in the neck to fill out and I highly recommend avoiding that situation by using checks, credit cards, online banking, etc.

In this case, the DEA is just being racist.

And secondly, who carries $24,000 in cash around with them? What if someone robs his truck while he is out getting lunch at a local diner?

It is not necessarily illegal to carry large amounts of cash with you but it is certainly a bad idea.

[TommyJefferson]

Racial profiling? Shoulda refused the search? Probably guilty anyway?

Not to be offensive, but you could benefit from a harsh dose of reality. A good ass-whipping by some hillbilly cop would set you on the path to enlightenment.

Power corrupts. Socialism give more power to government agents. As is natural, they become ever more corrupt.

Go read the court cases detailing the ever growing number of instances where federal, state, and local authorities steal the assets of citizens using "asset forfeiture laws".

There you will learn that the victim's race, your childish hemp advocate 4th amendment theoretics, and guilt have NOTHING to do with it.

[Falconoffury]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')here is a law that requires you to report any cash withdrawals over $10,000 to the IRS but if you can account for the money, no one bothers you.

[Pretorian]

I dont know what guys you are talking about, and I am sure you dont either. Every country has its own rules about importing/exporting currency/gold/ets. He could take up to 10K undeclared through the border. The rest he had to declare on the border, thats it. The only thing that surprises me in this story is that the driver wasnt fined/jailed.

[Falconoffury]

He was simply at a weigh station. He wasn't crossing the border into another country.

[Pretorian]

Hmm.. what were border patrol agents doing there then? Anyways, I am sure commercial trucks have a bit different rules to be on the road than normal vehicles.

[Pretorian]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('TommyJefferson', '
')Socialist governments do not respect property rights.

[Benzin]

Laws in the US vary state to state. There is a thing called jurisdiction. What may be an illegal search by a local police officer may be okay by a federal agent under the jurisdiction of federal law. US Border Patrol agents and Texas State Troopers work under different sets of laws and guidelines.

The guy did consent to a search. However, I am puzzled as to how taking his money was justified. Is it a crime in Texas to have over 10,000 dollars in your possession? Obviously not otherwise he would have been arrested. Nevertheless the money was seized and handed over to the DEA? I am not familiar with Texas statutes but this story isn't adding up.

[TommyJefferson]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Benzin', 'I') am puzzled as to how taking his money was justified. Is it a crime in Texas to have over 10,000 dollars in your possession? Obviously not otherwise he would have been arrested. Nevertheless the money was seized and handed over to the DEA? I am not familiar with Texas statutes but this story isn't adding up.

[Benzin]

Oh and Texas State Troopers suddenly enforce civil law now?

[Benzin]

Long story short; Miranda has two requirements: in custody and asking incriminating questions. If both are not present then it doesn't apply.

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('ferrelgiraffe', 'I') bought a radar detector for my kids, not because they speed, they don't.
But to know when to take a side street when a cop is around
if they see you they just might be bored and pull you over for no good reason, just stay away from them