Post by Logan on Feb 12, 2016 17:17:57 GMT -6
State patrol, ACLU unite behind measure on civil asset forfeiture
LINCOLN — Nebraska authorities would have to convict an accused drug smuggler before they could seize his cash, car or plane under legislation backed Wednesday by a politically diverse coalition in the Nebraska Legislature.
Legislative Bill 1106, introduced by Sen. Tommy Garrett of Bellevue, seeks to change a common law enforcement practice called civil asset forfeiture. Supporters say forfeiture allows authorities to financially cripple drug dealers, but critics say it has been increasingly used to take assets from people who were never charged with or convicted of a crime.
Rarely do the American Civil Liberties Union and the Nebraska State Patrol find themselves on the same side of an issue.
“To have libertarians, conservatives and liberals all in one office working together, it was a sight to behold,” said Garrett, a Republican.
Read more: www.omaha.com/news/legislature/state-patrol-aclu-unite-behind-measure-on-civil-asset-forfeiture/article_d5fb3304-17cc-5c69-b41c-ce16541969ba.html
LINCOLN — Nebraska authorities would have to convict an accused drug smuggler before they could seize his cash, car or plane under legislation backed Wednesday by a politically diverse coalition in the Nebraska Legislature.
Legislative Bill 1106, introduced by Sen. Tommy Garrett of Bellevue, seeks to change a common law enforcement practice called civil asset forfeiture. Supporters say forfeiture allows authorities to financially cripple drug dealers, but critics say it has been increasingly used to take assets from people who were never charged with or convicted of a crime.
Rarely do the American Civil Liberties Union and the Nebraska State Patrol find themselves on the same side of an issue.
“To have libertarians, conservatives and liberals all in one office working together, it was a sight to behold,” said Garrett, a Republican.
Read more: www.omaha.com/news/legislature/state-patrol-aclu-unite-behind-measure-on-civil-asset-forfeiture/article_d5fb3304-17cc-5c69-b41c-ce16541969ba.html