Civil Forfeiture: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

Did you know police can just take your stuff if they suspect it's involved in a crime? They can!
It’s a shady process called “civil asset forfeiture,” and it would make for a weird episode of Law and Order.
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[@notbobby125]

GOOD NEWS EVERYONE! New Mexico just passed a bill ending Civil Forfeiture in the state! 1 down, 49 to go.

[@Ragan31687]

I was very tempted to make a Breaking Bad joke here.

[@johnathonbrady3837]

notbobby125 Oregon never had civil forfeiture laws.

[@notbobby125]

Johnathon Brady Alright, 1 down, 1 never came up, 48 to go.

[@Thorntonian]

notbobby125 Wow, this is going quickly.

[@ZoanBlade90]

It's a start.

[@andyk4621]

the amount of fucketry that JO has exposed to me about this country is fucking mind blowing.

[@christopherweaver9543]

Imagine if he covered other countries. America cant be the only country with buried dirt.

[@TheGlassAddiction]

But Christopher, it's the fact that America as a country is built up on the concept that it's NOT like "those other countries" He's not living in "those other countries". HE's living in America. And it is a HUGE issue.

[@christopherweaver9543]

That doesn't mean he cant cover other countries. More.

[@TheGlassAddiction]

Christopher Weaver That's not what his show is about. If you thought it was you missed the entire concept of it

[@Gunman610]

If he covered other countries, I'll guarantee that he'd have less viewers. That being said, there's something to be said for cleaning our own house before we judge others.

[@colintimp1372]

One of the most disgusting examples recently was a young woman who was the victim of sexual abuse. She was awarded a civil judgement of about $74,000 after her abuser won $75,000 in the lottery. However before she could collect the money, police raided the man's house, where he had the cash. They seized the money and are refusing to give it to the victim.

[@SvenTviking]

I think the judge will have something to say about that.

[@Hemostat]

​@@SvenTvikingthey'll prob just high five the cops

[@jeffrowisdabest]

I have a feeling the person from whom they took the money has connections to law enforcement. He'll get the money back when the police claim they spent it on a zamboni that doesn't seem to exist.

[@jp6234]

@@SvenTviking It would not be surprising if the judge got his share of Policing for Profit!

[@sneaks9150]

I was in the jury for the "America vs an article consisting of 50,000 cardboard boxes, more or less, each containing one pair of clacker balls" case. It was a long a grueling day in court waiting for all 50,000 boxes give statements one at a time.

[@TheLunarLegend]

"I've concluded this money was going to be used in a crime." Are you profiling my cash? I suppose ALL cash looks the same to SOME people. YOU MAKE ME SICK!

[@cheekypasta55]

TheLunarLegend Guess they are reverting to playing the.....cash card. I'll see myself out.

[@TheLunarLegend]

soccerlover1598 that joke made no... cents Hold the door right behind ya

[@gigabic7487]

This place is empty since you all got out. I claim it.

[@modernlacuna]

+Gigabic I charge the place with civil unrest. It is now mine.

[@timweatherill3738]

+AndroZeus Perhaps I should just lay claim to Facebook, or KZbin? How about Apple? It's an appalling law.

[@IMSiegfried]

The state of Florida just passed a bill to make civil asset forfeiture illegal! Yay!

[@Decenium]

the day we need to praise Florida...the world really is coming to an end

[@IMSiegfried]

Lol!

[@iron1349]

But that's only Florida.

[@IMSiegfried]

yes.....and every individual has the right to talk to their city council and local reps where many new regulations get their start. And the way has been paved because of Florida and New Mexico.

[@deathpyre42]

Wait, Florida did something reasonable? Oh crap the world is ending.

[@brianmcintyre6132]

Canadian long haul truckers are warned not to carry large amounts of cash when going to America because the police will rip you off.

[@petrusromanus4647]

You will get robbed

[@pamelaporter1739]

Brian McIntyre, that's a shame and embarrassing.

[@miceatah9359]

@@pamelaporter1739 and also not true lol

[@cam_p_bells9506]

mic eatah very true.

[@Kitajima2]

@@miceatah9359 My cousin drives trucks for G&Z Transport (oil and gas). Truck stops offer discounts for cash, but he was robbed by policemen in Texas. You know nothing

[@schattentaenzerin]

So, it's legal to sue a house, but they still use the old argument of "guns don't kill, people do"? Arrest those guns! They look suspicious and might be used for criminal activities. What insanity is this?

[@ctrain149]

"Common people do not carry that much US currency" So then he was an uncommon person. How is that proof of guilt?

[@mr.ferncluster2866]

Actual Wonder: 4:20 How?!?!? - The Ancient Romans had laws against this!!

[@dowskivisionmagicaloracle8593]

So what's up America? You have a constitution which expressly allows you to own a gun in order to prevent EXACTLY this sort of government tyranny. So where are the news headlines that these thugs being accused of treason and summarily executed? Oh I see, normal people in [current year] don't use guns to uphold justice, guns are only tools for lunatics to shoot up schools or for crazed Hillary Clinton supporters to shoot Republican candidates.

[@thissitesgay]

@@omi_god What? how are you this misinformed while on the internet? that is the exact reason for the 2nd amendment. To preserve state power and to fight against a tyrannical federal government.

[@rekt4guud134]

you are wrong there mate. at first it was thought militias should defend the land, and that federal governement should only be allowed to raise an army in time of war, but militias were unsuccessful against the british so they passed laws to allow federal government to raise and maintain an army, even in times of peace. the main reason for the 2nd amendment was to prevent the federal government from under funding militias, do you understand what this even means? or why would the militias fear being underfunded if there is a federal army? this law exists, on part for defense against foreign enemies but also to prevent the federal government from raising an army and oppress its people. get a clue before you call other ignorant.

[@rekt4guud134]

@@omi_god if you dont understand why the wording was made this way its ur own problem. just know that makes you the ignorant one.

[@ianbattles7290]

What's the difference between a cop and a criminal? It's legal to defend yourself when a criminal robs you.

[@abbiaca-3288]

And criminals are much more polite

[@lesliewhite6832]

Blue Life They also have better dress codes too. (One grows tired of semi-military uniforms.)

[@Ticklemetwink]

Blue Life Nowadays the chance to get shot by a criminal is also lower than with an "officer of the law"

[@thehikerboy1]

Ian Battles Depends on what state you're in.

[@Justmynewaccount]

Ian Battles The cop wears a uniform

[@crazyartmichael]

I've been asked if I had any money on me several times by police. I always respond in the negative. Never carry cash with you if you can avoid it, because if they take it you will never get it back. Even trying to get it back will get the police harassing you. I went to a party once and was confronted by the hosts uncle. He was a veteran police officer. He saw I had an antique pocket knife on me, and decided he wanted it. First he told me it was illegal and that I had to hand it in to him. I corrected him and let him know it was perfectly legal. Next he said I was in the wrong and that if I didn't give it to him he would arrest me and make up charges. We got into a heated argument and I ended up literally grabbing my wife and hastily leaving before he could steal from me. He was literally on the phone as I was leaving calling his police friends to see if they could come help him steal from me. This is all allowed in their mind set. They see themselves as right in all scenarios.

[@frankt9156]

They can charge you with obstruction of justice if you lie to them.

[@mechengr1731]

@@frankt9156 well that's why he said never carry cash on you if you can help it.

[@greenmonster9913]

@@mechengr1731 Or just don't answer police questions. You get pulled over, you give them your license & proof of insurance, & tell them you don't answer questions, as is your right under the 5th Amendment

[@brutusmaximus5380]

Just sue the police under the Hobbs Act codified in 18 USC § 1951. The term “extortion” means the obtaining of property from another, with his consent, induced by wrongful use of actual or threatened force, violence, or fear, or under color of official right. The operant phrase is "color of official right". So just because the state makes civil forfeiture legal doesn't make it right under federal law. Some federal agencies help the states out by saying their state operation falls under a federal agency program.. such as DEA... Yea right sue the DEA under the Hobbs act also. You want to sue the state and/or the federal agency at the Federal level that way it goes to the Supreme Court after a few appeals.

[@longQ1551]

We need cop dramas that expose shady police activity

[@GordisCharca]

Well "Cops" is canceled so we can have "Cops but for Cops" now. Great idea

[@Forestfreud]

Yeah I watch a lot of law and order because it doesn’t require a lot of thinking and I’ve been struck so profoundly lately by how often they paint internal affairs investigators as the villains. They’re CONSTANTLY bitching about IAB even after they’ve literally just shot a citizen. It’s straight propaganda.

[@fredyscanlan]

virginia smith correctomundo. US government subsidises movie and tv if they portray people a certain way. Ie if you have a drug user in the film and they are a loser, you play less tax. If they’re a drug user and not a loser you don’t get that particular subsidy. You are being mentally manipulated everywhere:(

[@SisterKnight]

@@GordisCharca ...nope its back, they canceled it for PR and brought it back.

[@GordisCharca]

@@SisterKnight of course they did. Im sure they will learn nothing going forward as well.

[@annalwhore]

By watching John Oliver talk about the crap going on in the US, I've started to appreciate my own country a lot more.

[@Breakfast221]

+saymynameb*tch!!! To be honest, you could probably do exactly the same show about almost any developed country and you'd find an insane amount of fucked up shit that goes on in supposedly free societies. But yes, the US has... quite a bit of problems.

[@ngarcia103]

+saymynameb*tch!!! Sounds about right. I feel the same way about my country.

[@ashleycasey2093]

Fuck you

[@A-small-amount-of-peas]

every country has problems but Americas are definitely the most visible

[@ianbattles7290]

Civil Asset Forfeiture makes me ashamed to be an American.

[@cbdsw]

The Canadian Government has issued a travel warning to people traveling to the US regarding this very thing. I never thought I would see the day the US would have the same travel warnings as third world countries.

[@akeylawallace4420]

Well Damn

[@Sumaxi]

No they haven't, I checked it on travel.gc.ca/destinations/united-states You might be thinking of New Zealand?

[@cbdsw]

Sumaxi Sorry I miss read the article ( www.cbc.ca/news/world/american-shakedown-police-won-t-charge-you-but-they-ll-grab-your-money-1.2760736 ) They do say to be careful though.

[@Sumaxi]

cbdsw oh wow, yeah I did read through the article and it basically restates everything that the video does -- nice find!

[@emeraldkat2167]

Well, you should realize that when the US has a healthcare system rated lower than quite a few third world countries and a system setup to take more money the poorer you are, this kind of thing is a pretty obvious thing to go hand in hand with all that. The US has quite simply become the nation of worshipping capitalism to the point where greed is an acceptable addiction, and treating people humanely or in any kind of respectful way has been seen as being a leftist liberal communist... Its honestly depressing.

[@arsonmarkscheid4381]

watching this june of 2020 like

[@carlplz00001]

Me too 😂, and still like new 🙄 this topic, nothing have changed.

[@toast7969]

Same here. Edit: I thought this video was new at first. But wow the corruption has been going on for years.

[@Garacha222]

a google search on "civil forfeiture" seems to show this potential of stealing citizen's milk money is still in full effect. There really should be episodes on some cop show about this technique.

[@NotExplicable]

D E F U N D THESE THUG ASSHOLES

[@BadPenny3]

Wash, rinse, repeat...

[@luvmibratt]

As a judge will say ignorance is not a defense, so that I don't know cop SHOULD have been jailed.

[@randomstuff-qu7sh]

Many states have a very low standard of evidence for civil forfeiture. I'd think if the cop would get in trouble for anything, perhaps leaving the person's explanation out of the report could be used to accuse him of falsifying the report.

[@edwardcollins8102]

Except Qualified Immunity says exactly Ignorance of the law (for cops and other government employees) is the best defense (and it works extremely well).

[@BrandonQ1995]

I couldn't even laugh at his jokes, the whole concept of Civil Forfeiture just straight up pisses me off. This is legalized robbery, shit you'd expect from the mob. I'll still never forgot that asshole cop who took 30 bucks I had in my pocket after being stopped an frisked right in front of my damn building. I love that John Oliver is tackling such controversial and sometimes forgotten subjects. Felt the same way during his student loans segment.

[@sheriwhispers]

I couldn't laugh at all I was so sick to my stomach. An thinking about how my dad use to carry hundreds of thousands of dollars in his briefcase to put in the bank in the Morning ? Seriously now .........

[@Brandizzleizzle]

The police are infinitely worse than the mafia. Mainly because there are millions of complete imbeciles who think cops are heroes or good guys and nothing could be further from the truth. They are nothing but strong arm enforcers of the state. THERE ARE NO GOOD COPS! PERIOD!

[@johnh173]

***** goldman sachs stole 14 billion in 2008 through derivative fraud (illegal naked short credit default swap against subprime mortgages - aig bankruptcy). Nobody seems to care. That's money out of your pocket.

[@Astronopolis]

Same happened to me, I was given $100 by my parents because I was short on rent, stopped at a traffic stop and walked away missing $100

[@TheRedRaccoonDog]

"Hippity hoppity, your cash is now my property."

[@slad6716]

TheRedRaccoonDog My gosh John you have accounts with different names now.

[@aswisshuman637]

I dont have any cash tho

[@successvideos1160]

I'm surprised he didn't mention the most amazing thing. In some states, police actually have access to portable credit card machines that they can and do use to not only take all of your cash but then max out all your credit cards. I wish I was joking here but I found out about this a few years ago and it still hasn't changed. One police force actually bought a cabin on the lake for officers to use for free.

[@crondawg101]

more info please

[@sachadee.6104]

😳

[@AFN2750]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t it the responsibility of an establishment to get a license to sell alcohol, not the people consuming it? When I go to a French restaurant, I don’t ask for their liquor license

[@JokeCubed]

I don't know how it works in the US, but over here, part of getting the liquor licence involves having everyone trained and checking ID's, so if the restaurant serves alcohol to someone who is underage, that is a violation of the liquor licence. So the police could've said "We raided that art gallery because we had reasonable belief that they were serving alcohol to minors."

[@irenerojas3415]

"Do you have more than $5,000 in the car?" "Hahaha not even in my bank account."

[@torrace12]

in Mchigan 90 percent of forfeitures where less then 500 dollars

[@vinnievalentine421]

Yes, in Monopoly money 💰🤑😂😂😂

[@bobbazoid9969]

California cops have the credit card machine. No pin# required

[@DazednConfused0]

the cop that stole the 20k from the guy who was going to buy a car should be fired for incompetence.

[@alexkorman1163]

Don’t worry. They investigated themselves and determined they did nothing wrong.

[@petros_adamopoulos]

He's very competent. Enforces the law to the letter. If laws allow you to rob, then do the legal thing.

[@Gaius__]

He should not only be dismissed but also indicted for extortion. And then serve the full sentence. Murica is such a shithole, a literal Third World country.

[@kathryngeeslin9509]

Instead he'll be rewarded for productivity. He took the money not for himself (though he have claimed much of it, he obviously had no problem falsifying reports) but for his department. A hero.

[@jamesdmack]

"After Reby filed an appeal, and after NewsChannel 5 began investigating, the state agreed to return his money -- if he'd sign a statement waiving his constitutional rights and promising not to sue. They also made him come all the way from New Jersey, back to Monterey to pick up a check."

[@earportals7438]

Love that he cited TN cops for this. My hometown cops were seizing meth and leaving the manufacturers and their equipment to continue production. Sold it out the back door. The cooks and the cops lived in the same neighborhoods.

[@charlamitreslarissa6744]

I love that John Oliver uses Law and Order to comment on police issues and then doubles down 7 years later. Major Kudos 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@heef9001]

He's consistent!

[@dustineng1]

"When injustice becomes law, Resistance becomes Duty" -Thomas Jefferson

[@OlivePapyrus]

Wow. I'm gonna use this.

[@GHustle4]

Yeah sounds good and how much of a resistance has been done by americans...??

[@briangriffin5359]

America is finished - George Carlin

[@Pissoff56]

GHustle4 well we haven’t tried shooting these assholes yet

[@MrAnimason]

@@briangriffin5359 Fuck that guy.

[@2xkiller]

All I have to say is that my property has hired me as its attorney.

[@2xkiller]

And as payment for my service it is giving itself back to me.

[@MunckyFace]

2xkiller good luck there Mick Thomson

[@omerk5812]

2xkiller plot twist: you dont own property

[@2xkiller]

the rs If I paid for I do. That is what makes it property. lol

[@alexandercummins]

2xkiller Sorry Killer Civil Forfeiture unit says otherwise, Its theirs now.

[@millanferende6723]

I got redirected here after watching the latest video on police in 2020. Anyone watching this in 2020 and shaking their head?

[@ForrestFox626]

Over here!

[@nickbrannon3251]

All of us.

[@digama0]

There were so many jokes in this one that I could barely muster a weak smile for. I just can't see this stuff as funny anymore, I'm too emotionally drained from all the recent events. This is not funny, this is terrifyingly dystopian.

[@mczeljk]

Yeah...and people are protesting against face masks! As if nothing else was wrong

[@millanferende6723]

​@@mczeljk People protest because very often things could be a pre-requisite for something else. "You have to wear face masks on the street" could become the "Government emergency act of controlling people's free will." Just to say something for emphasis. As you know, rights are eroded slowly, over time. Often methodically. This is why people resist any kind of change where government can force them to do anything. Because it can be a first step in becoming some emergency law. With that said, I feel that people should protest for anything that they deem restricts their free will.

[@dschoene57]

The American dream - being robbed by the state...

[@IPConfigskillz]

This happened to me. I had enrolled in college classes at a local Junior College. Signed up for Financial Aid and was awarded money to pay for my schooling. I had this money on my person when I was pulled over in my girlfriends very old pos car. I was not arrested, not even suspected of a crime. Not charged at a later date, nothing. I was pulled over, pulled out of my car, searched, money confiscated, and released. Heard nothing afterwards. I tried to get the money back and was given a runaround story. I never did get that money, and because I could not afford to pay for my schooling because of the forfeiture, I could not attend school for that quarter. Not only that, but the because I didn't go to school, the government suspended my ability to have financial aid. Essentially, I was robbed by the government of money that was awarded to me by the government, and not allowed to attend college because of it. And for no reason at all.

[@mbulelozulu7963]

Nosce Te Ipsum. AMERICA HAS BECOME A POLICE STATE

[@Poldovico]

Of course there was a reason. Margarita machine, remember? Fucking liberals with their fucking college bullshit. /s

[@baronvonlimbourgh1716]

@@mbulelozulu7963 a banana republic.

[@tommyg3201]

Nosce Te Ipsum blah blah blah......crimes deserve punishment! Go to school to learn

[@gregfalco4528]

@@Poldovico To be fair, it was a pretty sweet industrial margarita machine.

[@robgoren8628]

"Burden of proof" is now "burden of a wild speculation of the imagination." "Due process" is now "because I say so."

[@serioussilliness2064]

Our culture is so fascist. Fucked up.

[@user-qx1om2wj1h]

So High school bullies are now cops .......fuck.

[@LinkMcStink]

It's weird how people like John are suddenly against this sort of thing when it happens to them or someone they agree with but when it comes to something like #Metoo they are all in favor of it. But I'll give credit where it's due. John may be an unfunny leftist prick but on the rare occasion when he cares more about facts than narrative, he hits it out of the park.

[@MrLTLB]

With the President we have Today, sadly it proves that it will be like this for many years...

[@laszlokiss483]

this is what "liberals" created you have killed out constitution when they get rid of the guns expect a mass culling and bloodletting

[@JadeDragoness6]

If you haven't done it yet, *please do a video on how the cheap roadside drugtest kits often give false positives, leading to false imprisonment and of course civil forfeiture.* This happened to someone I knew, he'd been clean for 15 years, but the police harassed him, and when a cheapass kit gave a false positive he was arrested and lost his business property. He was cleared of the charges SIX MONTHS LATER but still didnt get his property back. He became very depressed and agoraphobic with panic attacks, and eventually he ended himself.

[@CIA_Killed_JFK]

The Detroit police definitely have an agreement with the towing company that towed those 44 cars. $900 x 44 = $39,600 & you better believe the police got a kickback for that.. tow truck companies are a complete scam. Most people who get their cars towed are people who can't afford to fix their cars, people who's car breaks down and they can't afford to fix it & when it gets towed, you need to pay money to get your car back, The fee doubles every day & if you don't get your car in 30 days they get to keep your car. There should be some type of voucher for people for are low income, Disabled or unemployed.. it disgusts me.

[@kellyshaw9410]

And yet when you break down or get in an accident who do you call to recover your car?🧐🤨

[@Roger8176]

​@@kellyshaw9410A bunch of thieves!

[@carlosbaldellou]

I've looked up about civil forfeiture and i'm ashamed of you, John. Why didn't you iclude united states vs one tyrannosaurus bataar skeleton?

[@Leo-lr6rj]

lol

[@voogru]

+carlosbaldellou Can't get them all.

[@faerieofskye]

You have to if you want to be the very best.....that no one ever was!!

[@Leo-lr6rj]

Fae Summers Rofl

[@phillip_mcguinness7025]

To catch them is your favorite test?

[@tekbarrier]

"I'm seizing your money because I think you were on your way to buy drugs" There's no possible way to prove you weren't!

[@leland-bobpalmer4274]

Yes there is= have the employer you were meeting call & vouch, Or have your drug dealer say you canceled lol SADLY police can just shoot you & ditch your body ANYWAY ALL DAY. honestly most police reports I have read, are 70% made up excuses for their abuses of power & barely shreds of truth involved

[@JamesRichardWiley]

Now the police are the criminals. Say nothing, but cooperate with all other reasonable requests. Actually you have no defense from being robbed if they decide to rob you. After they send you on your way tell your story on youtube with a bag over your head.

[@MrLTLB]

Yeah there is...by stating where you are going and No Cop can just jump Assumptions like that!

[@crazyfakar1]

"no possible way" doesn't gel with me. Surgically implanted surveillance and transmitting devices. Show them on your mobile phone what you have been doing in the leadup to getting stopped and that they are being recorded and transmitted for your own protection. Maybe one doesn't have to go so far?

[@dowskivisionmagicaloracle8593]

So what's up America? You have a constitution which expressly allows you to own a gun in order to prevent EXACTLY this sort of government tyranny. So where are the news headlines that these thugs being accused of treason and summarily executed? Oh I see, normal people in [current year] don't use guns to uphold justice, guns are only tools for lunatics to shoot up schools or for crazed Hillary Clinton supporters to shoot Republican candidates.

[@Weeble_Wobble]

Watching this in during the 2020 protests/riots. Still no change.

[@SuperShadow]

@@uwuauphourous1170 are you sure it's illegal in florida?

[@uwuauphourous1170]

Purple yeah I looked it up and yeah my comment was wrong. Honestly I got that information from a diffrent comment in this comment section. If your looking for the actual law of the land please use this link it takes you to a website that provides state by state information on civil forfeiture www.findlaw.com/criminal/criminal-rights/asset-forfeiture-laws-by-state.html.

[@davelester1985]

WE need a complete change of politicians who have written this law.

[@JarrodBaniqued]

Including Biden as the nominee. An absolute dolt of a Senator who praised civil asset forfeiture on the Senate floor in 1991. It disgusts me to say he’s the lesser of two evils, but at least we will always have a new generation hold him to account in Congress if he wins the Presidency

[@kindredspirit9703]

@King Peppy Biden is nowhere near comparable to the man who had his force use teargas and rubber bullets on a crowd of peaceful protesters, and then kicked a priest out of their church for a photo-opp.

[@MarioGoatse]

If Biden is a piece of shit, then Trump is the manure farm. If you're going to have a shitty President, then at least take the one that's not an insane conspiracy theorist and all round scum bag

[@huallacanes100]

They are all part of the scam, they won’t do a damn thing about, they all know about this for a long time but haven’t done nothing! They are of it! Supreme court and congress as well

[@nick5518]

Ladies and Gentlemen, American FREEDOM & DEMOCRACY!

[@mlang52]

+Nick Chxeidze Exceptional, isn't it?

[@jallenk73]

+Nick freedom is a lie these days free to not travel with lots of cash free to not have son caught with 40 american dollars worth of heroin free not to have enough money to fight the cops that only freedom we have

[@willlow97]

+jason kearns and now, you need a passport for domestic travel, and the IRS can take that passport. Not even free to travel at all anymore, without the government's permission.

[@samueljones621]

+Nick No Nick its Ladies and Gentlemen, American SOCIALISM/COMMUNISM aka the System: The Government / Police Shakedown of the innocents

[@DwaSelery]

+Nick Freedom to take your shit

[@marcusbellamy2303]

Funny point, and maybe it's been made, but did those cops who bought the kegs and margarita machine have a liquor license to distribute alcohol?

[@jaysoncarte9]

hahaha, awesome!

[@JonDoeIsWaleed]

You only need one if you're selling, i believe.

[@Gazzer1966]

Ahh you believe they are selling, that's a good reason to seize their assets in a forfeit to civilians case

[@jasonmcdowell2811]

Mr Anderson screw that, call in a civilian swat team and shoot them all

[@vinnievalentine421]

@jason lol@civilian swat team. 😂😂 Love it

[@permarkusrisman6471]

”If the police need money for equipment we should clearly give it to them.” How the tune has changed.

[@altareggo]

lol well so long as the "equipment" isn't a bunch of bazookas and heavily armored vehicles.....on the other hand, margarita and slushie machines... what harm could they do??

[@jellybellytelly]

Keyword there is "need"

[@calamity0.o]

They need money for training instead of more equipment they have no clue how to properly use except for what they see in the movies.

[@-cheshire-cat]

@@altareggo Don't forget grenade launchers. Standard police issue..........

[@tobaliciousholland12]

If that's your only takeaway from this video, you're cherry picking in the wrong orchard.

[@lostbutfreesoul]

Almost 10 year later and a case is in front of the Supreme Court related to this. It... does not look good, with the likes of Altio wondering why a hearing to return property is even required. As the case before him involves people who have no criminal convictions, who just happened to have property in vicinity of a crime someone else did, that line of questioning is very telling. Our justices are asking why should the police even have to review the seizure at all?

[@MDMetalManiac]

"We're like the anti Spiderman - Great Power, No Responsibility".. The story of America

[@Aaron565]

Except Spiderman is an american figure, this is an american site on an american internet.

[@turlumujan]

@@Aaron565 How is that a relevant answer to what he just said?

[@elik.webber7630]

At least when Robin Hood was robbing the King he gave it to the poor .

[@alexnguyen8913]

This is why other countries make fun of us

[@dustinrausch5008]

+Lord Flubbernaut And it's why those other countries are hypocrites.

[@MrRgx521]

+Dustin Rausch Well, yeah, kind of. Very similar issues in most "developed" countries. It's still pretty surprising to an outsider how you guys just kind of take it for granted that the question isn't so much "Is this legal?" but "Can you afford to challenge this?". It really is all about the money everywhere, but most places still try to at least make some effort to conceal that fact.

[@possiblyadog]

+Lord Flubbernaut I could easily name 20 other reasons how an other country could make fun of us.

[@ianbattles7290]

Other countries actually warn their citizens not to carry cash in the U.S. because the police might steal it.

[@spol3278]

+Lord Flubbernaut And us Polish, during the civil uprising in 1981 and martial law in Poland police seized properties, vehicles form civilians for the State use to fight possible attract of Russians(which never attacked). My father lost 2 cars which he used for business. This is crap. I never knew this could happen in AMERICA !!!!!!

[@IamCoalfoot]

"Pennies from Heaven"... Uuuuuggghhhh... the balls on that guy, this just sounds like Banditry.

[@nevermorefrompast-qx5wb]

this HAS TO BE AGAINST the consitution...

[@TheronSax]

How has this not been struck down by the courts as unconstitutional? This is a clear violation of the 4th amendment's prohibition of searches or seizures unless there is a warrant signed by a judge and probable cause to back up the warrant.

[@maxdecphoenix]

probably because it's never been challenged? With the separation of powers laid out in the constitution, nationally, the judiciary cannot simply 'divine' that a law is unconstitutional in whole or in part. Or, perhaps i should say that the legislative can essentially create a law out of nothing. Just reach into the ether and a new law is created. (They selfdom have the authority to do this, but we're only paying attention to about 1/5th of the constitution these days anyway, so it is rather frequent) But for arguments sake, that is the status quo. The Judiciary however, isn't afforded the same creative control, i.e. to be able to simply go through the endless tomes of laws and statues arbitrarily with a red marker. They can only make judgements when they are presiding over a complaint (appeal). And that is generally a very tedious, very expensive (and risky) process, ask Larry Flint., or it can be an excruciatingly expeditious affair (Bush/Gore 2000). With civil forfeiture's structure, which is extremely difficult to get before an actual judge, if not outright impossible (as explained in the video), essentially what occurs is that more often than not, the states bureaucrats are left to regulate themselves until a) the political pressure resulting from C.F. becomes too great to ignore; B) someone manages somehow to get a C.F. case infront of an actual judge who can work to have some functions struck down; or, C) they merely act out of their own moral scruples. This occurs at all levels of government, Federal, State, sometimes locally. This is why in some of those 'freestaters'/constitutional activists videos that statists love to denigrate, you will occasionally see activists actually ask police for a citation or to be arrested. A recent video out of Austin, Texas where a PINAC advocate was harrassed by costumed extortionist over sitting on an 'aesthetic bench' comes to mind. At one point, the activist was actually BEGGING the cop to either write a citation, or arrest him, yet the cop refused.

[@tboneforreal]

Theron Sax You're not paying attention to what John Oliver is saying. If they were making a case directly against you, they would have to charge you with a crime and give you due process. When the police seize your property with civil forfeiture, their not making a case against you, but the property itself, which doesn't have the same rights and protections that you do. Hence the case of the US v. 64,000 shark fins, as ridiculous as that sounds. And unfortunately, civil forfeiture has gone before the Supreme Court in the past and been upheld as legal: www.businessinsider.com/supreme-court-ruling-on-civil-forfeiture-2014-11

[@TheronSax]

I understand what they're doing, I'm just amazed that it has worked, because it is such a clear violation of the 4th Amendment.The term "civil forfeiture" is nothing more than verbal shenanigans to obscure the fact that the state is performing unwarranted seizures. I'm not that surprised that the supreme court could be fooled by simply changing the name from "unwarranted seizure" to "civil forfeiture".

[@phoneboxchicken4108]

Theron Sax Verbal shenanigans can be a way for 'the law' to make a nice profit, hence why the corrupt lawyers back up the corrupt police. It's all part of the same structure that keeps them in margaritas and power.

[@owensohmer1084]

tboneforreal Except it doesn't make any sense to talk about property if we don't recognize it as an unalienable right of a person, so of course a sofa doesn't have any rights that's completely stupid but you are entitled to the sofa as it is your property and having it taken away is a violation of the fourth amendment, the supreme court be damned. No, seriously, your Supreme Court be damned they don't have any right to do that shit and they should be ashamed and internationally shamed for it. I hope shit goes into the fan, since I'm pretty sure the US don't give no fucks about international courts the only resource would be for citizens to stir the pot enough for legislation to pass and change something. On another topic, holy crap I love John Oliver, takes on many good topics in a very amusing way.

[@dannyadamson5580]

The average person has no clue how Dirty the average Cop is

[@TAXCOLLECTOR-mx3mg]

They grew up saying "Everyone Does It".

[@MaghoxFr]

@Pedro Daniel Lopes Ferreira what alternative do you propose? A legal system of civilized militias?

[@rekt4guud134]

@@MaghoxFr a police force is fine, the current state of the police force isnt. we dont need an alternative, we just need better recruitment standards and less political involvement. probably less bureaucratic crap too but thats debatable. there shouldnt be thousands of people paid 50-100k per year patrolling in 100k worth of equipement per square mile with no purpose other than creating shit where there is none. 80% of cops are so useless they prob start shit because they're bored and need to feel like they're relevant or because they're behind on their quotas. how many times do you see 3 cars 6 officers picking on a freaking teenager going to work cause his exhaust makes to much noise or some stupid shit like that, way to often!

[@charliewhite2625]

All police officers should understand that they are the first line of defense for maintaining order and a just civil society. This only works if people have trust and are willing to comply with authority and the laws. If law enforcement loose the trust of the people, and people start seeing them as the enemy, we will no longer have a peaceful society. These corrupt seizer and forfieture laws, that are nothing more than theft, only fans the flames of mistrust for law enforcement that's already taken root in this country. Throughout history, uprising and civil wars have started because of oppression, corrupt government authorities, and unjust laws. It's really sad and shameful this is happening in a supposedly just nation like the U.S.A.

[@mnomadvfx]

@@MaghoxFr " @Pedro Daniel Lopes Ferreira what alternative do you propose? A legal system of civilized militias?" How about a basic frickin IQ test before they hire these empty headed dipshits? As for the militia thing - just about any time a police officer shoots a black person for any reason they get a slap on the wrist and sent back to work, that's worse than a militia, that is a racial cleansing death squad from a 3rd world country made legal by the US government.

[@liznetherland3326]

In Texas they can take your credit cards in addition to your cash. Leaving you with no way to buy gas or food until you reach your destination or find someone who can lend you money.

[@karlbassett8485]

These days at least I'd have my phone to buy stuff with, unless they took that as well. And I could use the apps on my phone to block my credit cards.

[@jigarp999]

Wow...you don’t have to commit a crime to have everything taken away from you any second. All that you may have earned, saved, owned after years of hard work is gone because a cop had some doubt. Americans are fighting to keep their right to bear arms but do they know they do not have right to ANYTHING?

[@terihammond5932]

Why do you think it is such a priority of the government and the media to keep us all distracted as much as possible? Paying attention to the Supreme Court the past year? Roe was only one of a great many rights they have tossed out, and they are still going. This court has already seen more cases than almost any in history, and they are only a year in They are currently ruling on a PRETEND scenario in one instance, restricting our first amendment significantly in another, and destroying the power of unions in a third. That's what's coming, you should see what they already took. Very few outlets reporting on much of this, and none at all on right wing media. We are getting totally screwed, and most of us don't have a clue. This country is in really bad shape. Apathy at the ballot box is destroying us, and screaming it from the rooftops doesn't seem to make a bit of difference.

[@mcrazza]

I am an Australian citizen on the other side of the world and I feel pretty f*cking outraged after watching this video. What kind of system is this? How can it be allowed to continue? Just... WHY?

[@Ghettofinger]

Because, they target the poor (people with no funds to fight back) and make it as hard as possible (bureaucratically) for people to fight back without funds. Not defending it, I am just saying how it continues to happen. In fact, without this episode I am damn sure people wouldn't have even noticed it existed until it happened to them, and were unable to do anything about it.

[@changerald3699]

i think it started off as a pretty gd cause, to take down the large criminal corporations who could evade the law anyway they want. But yeah, it spirals down to this shit...

[@bigbeatmanifesto1569]

Savos Aren wait you dead tho, Im the Arch Mage

[@Ghettofinger]

Butter corner You look like a cat to me, cool shades!

[@bigbeatmanifesto1569]

Khajiit actually

[@averyfluet4406]

This video was just referenced in a Nevada case presented by Nevada Senator Don Gustavson in an effort to change civil forfeiture laws, this is becoming a trend in the western states with Utah recently outlawing civil forfeiture outright

[@averyfluet4406]

www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/nevada/nevada-lawmaker-wants-change-civil-forfeiture-rules

[@averyfluet4406]

www.forbes.com/sites/instituteforjustice/2017/03/31/not-guilty-verdicts-will-now-protect-people-from-civil-forfeiture-in-utah-unlike-almost-40-states/#6b0199e04dfa

[@985476246845]

That is great (old)news, this practice seems alien and wrong on every level.

[@--enyo--]

I love hearing how these issues progress. Thanks for sharing. :)

[@MrLiquidxIce]

MOVING TO UTAH

[@carolynfoster1541]

It always pays to watch LastWeek until the very end! Law and Order: Civil Forfeiture Unit was so good! I'm sure the cast had a blast doing comedy that also delivers a true public service statement. Smart and funny is always something worth watching!

[@Tefans97]

For a country priding itself on democracy and freedom there's a lot of things that make me fear ever going there again

[@Clovericious]

America. Where corporations are people and stuff is people.

[@Poldovico]

And people are stuff.

[@thehellyousay]

And people are always criminals in potentia.

[@Islandswamp]

Carl Bailey I agree with all of that, but even if it was true that the democrats or one or more specific democrats was responsible, it wouldn't change anything. I'd still be against it. So the "blame the democrats" line is doubly stupid. I think most left-wing people I know are independent enough to be willing to call out the Dems. I know I am.

[@torrace12]

@@Islandswamp well its all about one thing! To be , or not to be cant blame furniture and companies to have the same doubts as we humans ey!

[@torrace12]

@Wilson poetic beatutifulness is a good treat to read

[@ActuallyJozu]

"Tiene mucho, mucho dinero en su truck y trailer" LOLOLOL

[@aureliahernandez7757]

I watch this five years ago and thought it was brilliant. Just as brilliant five years later. I love your investigating work John Oliver and his team. May you stay on HBO forever

[@rosecat5638]

A woman I worked with had her son go through this. He got his tax return back, had cashed the check and was pulled over on his way home. The cops found his tax money and claimed that it was obviously drug money. He was charged with dealing drugs and they took his money. He had cashed the check to give half of it to his mother because she frequently babysat his children. The parts of the other half was apparently going to a large grocery haul as he was hoping to stock up on things for him and his kids and paying back a friend for fixing his truck. He sat in jail on a drug charge and even though he could prove the amount was actually his tax returns they still kept it. All it did was prove he had not gotten the money from selling drugs. But then they claimed he was going to use it to purchase drugs🤦‍♀️ Moral of the story I guess is don’t drive around with your tax return on you or the cops will steal it.

[@haidenmorgan]

That's insane! That case needs national attention! A tax return!? Tell me that doesn't just boil your blood!?

[@ianbattles7290]

How the hell are you supposed to even cash the check *if the cops can steal the money from you between the bank and your house???*

[@StardustLegend]

Tenny mucho mucho deniro in su trucky-trailer? what the hell even

[@Grifdawg]

its truck y trailer. y in spanish means and. dont really know how they missed that

[@StardustLegend]

+griffinn99 I know about that, but what the hell with the rest XD

[@getalifesoon23]

Tiene mucho mucho dinero en su truck y trailer? (Do you have much much money in your truck and trailer) The cop's spanish was completely grammatically correct, his accent was super white suburban tho also civil forfeiture; fucked up right?

[@discontinuedtnd871]

Trucky Cheese? Where a trailer can be a.... Help me out here....

[@BEEEELEEEE]

That clip was from my local news…

[@Allin7days]

Military officers require a college degree. Police officers don't. Any questions?

[@andrew3203]

Military recruits do not require college. Same with police recruits. But it's ok, you never went to college so you can become either.

[@humansvd3269]

@@andrew3203 No, Military comissioned officers do require a degree in the military.

[@youtubeuniversity3638]

I've a question, do military officers accepr more or less any degree from an acceedited college, or, does it have to ve a degree at least remotely related to being a military officer in some way?

[@humansvd3269]

@@youtubeuniversity3638 It has to be a bachelor's degree. Where from it's irrelevant but obviously a fully accredited one is what matters. Certain degrees open up certain positions and I think certain positions require a certain degree. A recruiter will tell you more.

[@fredyscanlan]

Andrei T officers not recruits...

[@barrywalls7175]

The US is way down the list of top countries to live in

[@IanPatrickOfficial]

"Tenny Mucho Mucho Diniro In Su Trucky-Trailer" Is going to be my new password. lol

[@Aaron-cz5tz]

good to know

[@teeganbezuidenhout1646]

Ian Moline gonna have to throw some numbers and a few symbols

[@axeman2638]

So inanimate objects can be charged with crimes by fictional entities for imaginary crimes that effect nobody? satire is useless at this point.

[@RantTherapist]

Nicely put. Pretty much exactly.

[@NathanTAK]

*affect

[@okramoffacebook1381]

Corporations are laughing

[@Erin-Thor]

Axe Man - "That effect nobody?" Get a clue bud. Someone owned everything taken, every item an individual paid for.

[@some-one-else]

Erin Thorkildsen Op was saying that the crimes supposedly committed by those objects didn't effect anyone because they didn't actually happen. Not that the forfeiture didn't.

[@shovelheadseven]

This is 10 years ago and still goes on today!

[@lifewithlolo9746]

This is one of the many reasons we need reform...

[@fatfishwen2332]

You know, we have an old saying in Chinese roughly means "policemen and gangsters are in a same family". I used to think that it is only true in my country, but it seems like this sentence is basic truth for most civilizations on this planet now.

[@CrabTastingMan]

*Not in Europe.* Europeans cops refuse to do anything unless they have absolutely damning evidence. And would rather wait for a warrant to do anything. To the point where sometimes it's letting criminals from Eastern Europe get away with a lot of things before anyone could apprehend them.

[@fatfishwen2332]

WOW! If that is true, I really feel so happy for European people and so sorry for us...

[@khoiduongminh5111]

also true in my country.

[@vinnievalentine421]

This is just in America. This doesn't even come close to anything that's in Europe or Russia. America is the dictator gangster of the world

[@elik.webber7630]

Yep when someone exposes criminals in Gov. then the criminals in Gov. ect make the person who exposed them as a criminals , then we are ruled by criminals . period .

[@brooklynjb3112]

lol did they really need the whole swat team to raid the art gallery funk night

[@atangelat1309]

American cops - scared and startled to a sound of a fart.

[@DimT670]

Well they gotta justify the swat budget somehow

[@lordlucius1341]

They needed at least one SWAT person for each car...

[@icameheretolaughatyou4820]

America is famous for overusing their SWAT teams.

[@tricatmeows]

They were scared for their lives

[@CrashBandiscoot]

Omg Jeff Goldblum was an awesome touch 🤣

[@rugershooter5268]

Isn't it a shame, its now 2021 and it hasn't gotten any better

[@AaronParker1977]

Rule number one: Do not answer any questions ****EVER****. They ask where you're going, "I don't answer questions". They ask if you know how fast you were going "I don't answer questions". They ask how your freaking day is going "I don't answer questions". Rule number two: Start taping immediately. Don't wait until they start beating/hurting/robbing you.

[@Chrisfragger1]

Gotta have one of those cameras that automatically uploads as it records. So that they cannot just smash it or "Civil Forfeiture" it.

[@threepac]

Rule#3 Never EVER agree to a search of your vehicle. If you don't agree to the search how can they find anything?

[@vidgami46]

I apologize for the 2 week delay, but this isn't always correct. I was pulled over for speeding on a cross country trip to my parents' house from college. There was A LOT of clearly visible luggage in the car. Probably looked suspicious as hell to the cop. He asked, and I told him the truth. He was satisfied with the answer, gave me a speeding ticket, and went on his way. If I refused to answer questions, I'd probably have just ticked him off and gotten my car messed up and searched and maybe seized. I'm just saying, think before speaking. Refuse questions (or lie if he's not suspicious) if you happen to have $10,000 in cash, but don't needlessly tick 'em off.

[@Chrisfragger1]

Admiral Fear So if a cop is rewarded for taking your stuff and belongings you still consider it the victims fault if they do it? Cops have no right to take your money because you aren't an ass kisser.

[@vidgami46]

Chrisfragger1 I honestly have no idea how you made that leap in logic. Of course it's not the driver's fault in these scenarios, and they have no right to take money on trumped up suspicions. And you don't have to be an ass kisser, just don't be overly defensive by refusing everything right away. If the cop starts asking silly questions, then sure, but don't give him a reason to start.

[@msykutera]

So basically it is legal robery that finances luxury items for Police.

[@GM-fx2jo]

looks like it....unbelievable

[@jackphantom]

And when you add all this up, they steal more than every burglar, break and enter artist, and thief in the US combined.

[@sahaynam6470]

The montage of cops asking about the money reminds me of Dennis Reynolds. "Time to see an ATM, pal."

[@travisgartside8374]

Here in Washington a police chief bought himself a Dodge Charger Hellcat as a personal daily driver. When confronted he said it was an undercover vehicle for the station. Only it was in his name - and a Hellcat is probably one of the worst "undercover" vehicles ever! The criminals will hear you before they see you. Anyways, despite being caught red-handed last I heard reported the chief had no intention of selling the vehicle or paying for it with his own money. Yes, seized money bought that prick a Hellcat. SMH.

[@therealkbrackson]

i reported an assault that happened a month ago, and then i didn't move forward with pressing charges. however, they took my phone, my clothes, my car for "evidence" and i still have not gotten anything back, they've told me to "go to court" even though the court self help doesn't know which remedy i should seek. so this piece stings, a lot.

[@gizmono2869]

did you get your stuff back ?

[@Poldovico]

... One time I read that some people in the US take the attitude that if their home gets invaded they should kill the invader and then call the police non-emergency line. At the time, it sounded preposterous. The more I learn about what the US is actually like, the more that line makes sense to me.

[@onkelpappkov2666]

So, Miss, what you're telling me is that you neither have any weapons to defend yourself with nor the physical ability to defeat a man of my size? Mmh... how much money do you have on you? Is that ring on your left hand worth anything?

[@vinnievalentine421]

I had cops seize my stuff and not give it back till I took them to court. Then they gave it back.

[@3Rayfire]

Your clothes? Did he just want to see you naked?

[@tonybenn1000]

This is better organized crime than Al Capone could have ever dreamed of.

[@sammyverma2905]

This even beats the opium trade.

[@ahotdj07]

@2:00 and I am sure that officer kept all that money and never turned it in as evidence.

[@DrunkynMonkee]

6:59 What he meant to say was "So I could steal the money".

[@somecollegekid4425]

I’m gonna be a mexican grammar Nazi to that cop. It’s “¿Usted tiene mucho dinero en su camión?”

[@bloodyspider8]

"Camión" is "Bus" in Mexican Spanish, the cop (even if he made everyone of us cringe with his pronounciation) is actually correct by using the word "tráiler"

[@MrKikip1992]

Are you saying trucky-trailer isn't Spanish? That's a real shame.

[@PyroMachinima]

Civil Forfeiture violates the probable cause clause of the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution and the due process clause of the Fifth amendment to the United States Constitution. Because simply suspecting the property to be used for criminal wrong doing is not probable cause and thus cant be taken. If this happens to you, file for a writ of certiorari and take this case to the Supreme Court of the United States. Laws are still struk down for being unconstitutional, stand up for your right in the Bill of Rights!

[@AzureDrag0n1]

+PyroMachinima The loophole is that the property is charged with the crime rather than the person which gets around any pesky amendments.

[@evelynfinegan4687]

+PyroMachinima Property =/= a person. Property is not afforded the same rights as a person, and thus isn't protected under the fourth amendment.

[@samp1365]

+Evelyn Finegan thanks for the clarification, I really thought the fourth amendment was the easy solution for the problem at first glance. It's ridiculous that the courts protect this loophole.

[@user-vi2xr5vb3j]

Thanks, I screen shot that just in case I get pulled over one day and the cop wants to take my stuff

[@JohnDoe-mv6go]

+Evelyn Finegan It is still your property, and they are steal seizing it from you; this justification doesn't make any sense.

[@shampooer]

watching this now, i see the original cracks beginning to form and how they only got worse until now

[@fishergirlsam]

This is still a thing! The F.A.I.R act (Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration Act) is up for vote right now. It has bipartisan support, but police are actively lobbying against it. Please let your congressman know that you want to end civil asset forfeiture.

[@Highyeena]

The fun part is when you realize that, legally, you don't have to tell the police that you have money in your car. You do not have to submit to a search of your car, either. You don't have to tell them jack shit besides "I won't answer any questions without a lawyer" if you want to, and then the state legally has to appoint you one if the officer wants to take you to court over it.

[@healthfitnessed]

Then there's the fun part where they blatantly tell you to go fuck yourself after you tell them you don't consent to a search and search your car and purse anyway. That's what happened to me. They stole $400, my cell phone, and a camera worth $1500. When I tried to file a report against them, no one believed me and I was threatened with a false report charge (a felony) and prison time if I didn't drop the case. It was my word against 2 cops so I had no chance.

[@Highyeena]

Liz Dum Dashboard cameras are a thing. If you record with one and can prove that you bought one, then even if they seized it legally the court has to assume that it was operable at the time of the indiscretion, and at that point the police have to prove that you DON'T or DIDN'T own one, which is pretty hard for them to do... especially since many dashboard cams automatically stream and upload to the cloud as they record. Mine does. Not to mention if you can prove ownership and loss or location of the goods (see: lock your phone, use the FindMyIphone thing), then it's incredibly hard for police to prove that you don't own or didn't own it. Technology is a helluva thing. You don't have to let it drop in your local court, either, you can take it to state-level though there's wait times and all that bollocks to deal with, and most of the time it's only worth it financially if more than 5 grand is stolen, though sometimes you can sue for grievances depending on various issues... Seriously, buying a dash cam is one of the best investments you can make if you're worried about being stopped by a corrupt officer. As far as houses, well, I don't really know what to say about that. Best you can do is hire a lawyer.

[@benk2755]

Liz Dum You know you should be able to do a FOIA(Freedom of Information Act) on the cops camera footage and obtain a copy of what happened to you. I have heard of people winning cases with just this type of information. Hope that helps.

[@UnknownXV]

Doesn't really matter. They will tell the judge and jury if it goes to trial that they smelled some drugs or you looked shifty or any number of ridiculous reasoning as to why they had "probable cause" to search your car. There are no legal protections for citizens anymore.

[@Highyeena]

Ben K Forgot about this one, but it's certainly a nice pseudo-alternative to dash cams. UnknownXV Doesn't help that people are trying to get the remaining ones taken away.

[@xkluzivtv]

We need more journalists like Oliver to keep us informed about domestic issues rather than foreign issues as global as they may be. We are worried about democracy in other countries but yet steadily allowing politicians to erode our constitutional rights without due process of the law. Wake UP Americans.

[@drshlotzkin]

"We need more journalists like Oliver" Uh... That story was from the Washington Post from A MONTH AGO! We need Oliver? Stories like these have been all over all the time!

[@randomstranger5877]

drshlotzkin You made me wipe my screen, thanks. Anyway, I think Oliver's great at presenting information, not gathering them. I mean, reporting. You know, reporting is for reporters, and presenting is for ranting. :)

[@nowdid]

I live in New Jersey and journalists and reporters talk my ear off about graduating from Georgetown or Columbia but they never bring out the truth of what is wrong with our country and the world.They have surrendered that to Comedy Network or HBO.The reporters brag about which celebrity they met or how difficult it is to get a book deal.THIS is what the reporters should be screaming about not John freaking Oliver.

[@xkluzivtv]

david stanley True! Prophets [Profits] over Truth...! that is until they become of victim of a law they refused to teach us about that goes against the U.S. Constitution.

[@xkluzivtv]

*UPDATE* Guy who filmed the death of Eric Garner - Indicted! Check Out: www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/03/ramsey-orta-indictment-eric-garner_n_6264746.html Should the Grand Jury Process be eliminated in America to give the power back to the people truly?

[@pennybags9635]

"I'm going to crumple you up to look like a cat's asshole" OMG I'm dying here!! Fantastic as always

[@mattydread8148]

That sketch was one of the best they’ve ever done. My god that was good.

[@drrome6433]

This a direct violation of the 4th amendment - unreasonable search and or seizure of person and or property without a warrant or a probable cause.

[@cenobitecyborgkratch9669]

Civil forfeiture is anti American. Wait until they run into the wrong mf who won't be robbed.

[@ricothorton477]

Yaun

[@paulmahoney7619]

DR ROME it’s an end run around it that nobody has bothered to call them on, as John said, by prosecuting inanimate objects.

[@roylangston4305]

Your error is in thinking the Constitution has any relevance. As Bush Jr said, it's just a piece of paper.

[@ladydragon7777]

And the 5th amendment And title 18 u.s.c. sections 241 conspiracy against rights and 242 deprivation of rights under color of law.

[@trevorlambert4226]

5 years later, doesn't look like anything has changed.

[@jannegrey593]

There is an unanimous SCOTUS ruling that changed it slightly, but at this rate it will be a decade or two, before something serious is done about it.

[@MAlatinboy]

Not to mention that the DNC just railroaded the primary process in order to essentially pick their preferred nominee Joe Biden, one of the architects of civil asset forfeiture law as we know it today. fee.org/articles/how-a-young-joe-biden-became-the-architect-of-the-governments-asset-forfeiture-program/

[@tachometer-flac]

There is a good documentary over 10 years old Aaron Russo MAD AS HELL.

[@gloomylobster111]

Minneapolis passed a law to limit it but the police department just ignored

[@Jeff-uq7iu]

It hasn't changed was just pulled over in Indiana for driving in the left lane on the highway. Trooper forced me to show him how much $ I had in my wallet!

[@jctripplesticks]

I hope that one day the US government rescinds our local law enforcements' authority to do this and opens the statutes of limitations so that any police officer/office that authorized or facilitated it could be held accountable by the public and their employers.

[@smitty5890]

And 2500 worth of drugs is hardly a reason to drive across the country. Once again you killed it with this story !

[@stalk8r]

Wow. This sounds like a practice straight from USSR. Bravo, America. You made it, you caugh up with them.

[@TheRealIronMan]

To be honest, if you really studied history, you'll realize USSR wasnt even that bad, USSR got demonized by western mainstream media.

[@stalk8r]

Tony Stark As someone from a post-communist country, fuck you :)

[@stalk8r]

Tony Stark Hahaha, insults are the best arguments. Truly communist countries have never existed (if they could and my country was among them would not be a shitty country, but a utopia where people are saints going against their nature). But the term Communist block exists as a synonym for the Eastern block, comprised of countries controlled by the USSR during the Cold War. The term is commonly used and if you can't be bothered to ackowledge that, then your history skills probably aren't as hot as you are trying to sell. Dumb bitch ;)

[@willisverynice]

Thanks bro, I knew we could do it.

[@willisverynice]

It's a joke man. He is exaggerating a bit, but in essence, his statement is basically what John is trying to get across here, these are not laws and actions that align with what we imagine as American values, but rather something we would expect from a corrupted government. It's embarrassing to me as a (presumably) fellow American that you either don't or can't get his joke.

[@rubytuesday8161]

The "mucho dinero" sentence part always cracks me up, no matter how often I watch it

[@charlessavoie2367]

Mumbled by a PIG.

[@jolliv3982]

This was nothing short of mind-blowing

[@ammo1033]

Here in Shelbyville Indiana, we have a casino. At any given time there one to 3 unmarked police officers. Their entire job is to roam around the casino and wait until somebody wins. When they win they take their picture they wait until you go to your car. They take your license plate picture. They wait until you leave and go out onto the public street where they can legally steal your money. Anything over $500 they can take, just because they want to. A friend of mine had money taken from him and they even had to move his 1099G out of the way out of his wallet to steal it. But they wouldn’t except it. He had won the money at the casino, even though they knew that he had.

[@ammo1033]

So to be clear, say you have $501 they don’t take just the one dollar and leave you the 500. They take all 501.

[@elliot6166]

More information about Tennessee: Cops never sit on the side of the road with drug runners that have drugs. They sit on the side with drug runners that already sold the drugs. They want the money, not the marijuana.

[@ridanann]

ima go Tennessee at somepoint i love jd an weed so i hope ur cops are smarter by the time i take my holiday becoz il take the slide of there gun an insert into there body. im not American i just like fucking with illegitimate authority becoz if might makes right ok lets see how that goz lol. ima enjoy the distillery im a fan club member allready

[@celiarobles7182]

There is an episode on "the good wife" about this.

[@Tkieron]

The ONLY time the police care about the drugs over the money is when they can put a tableful on TV

[@expletivedeleted7853]

BINGO! They always want the cash. They do this all over Amtrak as well.,

[@johnbrowne2145]

Someone please remind me again what rights are the "troops' fighting for?

[@daveed1797]

for the corporations rights to rob and steal from ANYONE

[@thatoneperson9116]

The right to remain silent while being robbed/shot/abused. The right to an attorney if you survive the encounter who is no help at all if they are public defender....

[@philipmoore449]

The rights of the American government to...the list is just too fucking long but basically it’s to be criminal.

[@Bloodlyshiva]

The right to do whatever they please to whoever they please.

[@markking2735]

just political bullshit.Wave the flag.Throw a parade.

[@Heart2HeartBooks]

Running with the Kitchen Sink would have been Hilarious!

[@GeorgeTsiros]

15:22 the wristwatch Goldblum is wearing is a classic casio in gold, so nice to see it

[@CraigCinMO]

As most of Oliver's stories show, almost everything in America is a racket. Civil forfeiture, payday loans, lotteries, TV preachers, educational loans, municipal courts and on and on and on. What a country.

[@jeiku5314]

The American Dream: To be able to buy anything and everything.

[@buca9696]

That's unregulated capitalism for you

[@Ausghan007]

And do you still wonder why a lot of people say " Fuck the pooolice"?

[@Maxi_94]

I am more like "Fuck the system!" - the police just uses what the system allows them.

[@Ausghan007]

Bumaye HGW true that, it's how they say "to protect and serve the rich".

[@hopespringseternal7028]

LOSETHENAME.COM

[@LordDragox412]

Auzra AFG "Protect our butts and serve ourselves a tasty margharitta" :D

[@qutubowaisi]

hopespringseternal70

[@thomasneal7694]

This should be reaired right now, when we’re talking about defunding the police!!!

[@christopherstevens2777]

I'm from western mass 50 minutes from Worcester and let me tell you they have no need for a Zamboni!! 🤣🤣 definitely haven't seen it driving around though

[@thagodwecreate5179]

Supreme Court just dealt 9-0 blow to civil asset forfeiture. Thanks John!

[@HistoryNerd808]

I'm kind of a conservative libertarian so I don't agree with John a lot(although there's also quite a bit I agree with him on) but he's absolutely right here. Unfortunately, the case didn't kill it completely but at least people who have their stuff stolen have a recourse now in the states that were saying FYTW to the federal BOR(case was about excessive fines, part of the 8th amendment)

[@thagodwecreate5179]

@@HistoryNerd808 i think this is 1 issue left/right/center/apolitical can all get behind. Civil asset forfeiture is thievery, corruption, unconstitutional and immoral.

[@HistoryNerd808]

@@thagodwecreate5179 Agree completely. It's one of the tragedies of our justice system. It's really everybody against your law and order types and I have to believe that even they are probably split on it

[@randomizer1666]

Just to clarify, the case that just went before the Supreme Court the suspect was guilty of a crime and had his property taken. They struck it down as an excessive fine for his crime. They have made no ruling whatsoever on any case where no crime was charged. That means that Civil Asset Forfeiture is only unconstitutional if the person is later charged with a crime to which the amount taken by the police would qualify as excessive. If they don't charge you with a crime the Supreme Court has nothing to say on the matter.

[@gteal24]

@@randomizer1666 Shame, since the words "The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." Are written into constitution to prevent asset seizure.