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Seizure/Confiscation

WARRANTLESS TAKINGS ARE PRESUMPTIVELY ILLEGAL!

3/20/2020
Illinois: Federal Lawsuit Takes On Towing For Profit
Lawyer takes on car confiscation for profit in Chicago, Illinois.
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2/11/2020
New York City To Confiscate Cars Over Speed Camera Tickets
New York City Council to vote on plan that impounds cars that accumulate a certain number of red light or speed camera tickets.
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10/11/2019
Innocent Motorist Fights Alabama Car Confiscation
Lawsuit challenges Alabama law that allows confiscation of cars without any hearing before a judge.
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9/13/2019
Alabama Cop Busted For Towing Cars From Lawn
Alabama Court of Appeals says police officer can be sued for confiscating without due process cars parked on a lawn.
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6/25/2019
US House Moves To Limit Car Seizures
US House of Representatives votes unanimously to block local police from seizing cars and other property under federal rules.
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6/20/2019
Illinois: Seventh Circuit Orders Return Of Impounded Cars
Seventh Circuit US Court of Appeals says Chicago, Illinois must return cars seized from drivers who have filed for bankruptcy protection.
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5/24/2019
Innocent Driver Challenges Chicago, Illinois Car Confiscation
Institute for Justice files class action lawsuit to shut down Chicago, Illinois car seizure program.
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3/14/2019
Minnesota Supremes Limit Car Confiscation From Innocent Owners
Minnesota Supreme Court imposes minor restriction on the ability of police to seize cars by requiring prompt hearings for innocent owners.
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3/6/2019
Honda Sues Over Massachusetts Car Confiscation
Honda files lawsuit to strike down Massachusetts car impounding statute as unconstitutional for its failure to take innocent lienholders into account.
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2/20/2019
US Supreme Court Overturns Land Rover Seizure As Excessive
High court decision delivers a severe blow to the law enforcement practice of taking away automobiles from individuals suspected of minor crimes.
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2/13/2019
States Consider Cracking Down On Car Seizures
Proposals to limit the seizure of automobiles and other property by individuals who have not been convicted of a crime advance in three states.
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1/9/2019
New Mexico Appeals Court Shuts Down Car Confiscation Program
State appeals court ruling drives final nail in coffin of Albuquerque, New Mexico car seizure enterprise.
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10/12/2018
Facebook Traffic Stop Complaint Triggers Kentucky Cops
Lawsuit charges Kentucky state troopers with assault, puppy-kicking over a Facebook complaint about a traffic stop.
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9/14/2018
Illinois: Federal Court Rules Bankruptcy Requires Return Of Seized Cars
Federal judge rules Chicago, Illinois violated bankruptcy law by refusing to return seized cars to debtors.
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8/31/2018
Utah Supreme Court Sides With Motorist Who Had Cash Seized
Utah Supreme Court rejects gimmick police used to seize cash from motorist who was never charged with any crime.
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8/3/2018
Federal Judge Declares New Mexico Car Seizure Program Illegal
Multimillion-dollar Albuquerque, New Mexico car seizure program shut down as unconstitutional.
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7/26/2018
Oregon Court Rejects Car Seizure Over Insurance Card
Oregon police must make some effort to verify motorist insurance before seizing a car under a new Oregon Court of Appeals ruling.
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7/6/2018
Iowa Supremes Mock SCOTUS On Warrantless Auto Searches
Iowa Supreme Court justices slam the US Supreme Court decisions designed to make it convenient for police to search cars without a warrant.
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6/22/2018
Kansas City, Missouri Under Fire For Predatory Towing
Lawsuit accuses Kansas City, Missouri of towing legally parked cars for profit.
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6/20/2018
US Supreme Court To Consider Car Seizure Constitutionality
US Supreme Court will decide whether seizing cars violates the constitutional prohibition on excessive fines.
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6/8/2018
Tennessee Man Sues After Cops Grab His BMW From Garage
Lawsuit challenges police seizure of a 7-series BMW from the garage of a Tennessee military veteran who had committed no offense.
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5/31/2018
Iowa Supreme Court Cracks Down On Auto Seizures
Unanimous Iowa Supreme Court decision restores due process protections in roadside seizure cases.
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4/18/2018
Utah Supremes To Decide Whether Cops Are Violating Forfeiture Ban
Utah Supreme Court to decide whether police can avoid ban on taking money from motorists not charged with any crime by calling in the feds.
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10/31/2017
Motorist Sues After Feds Seize Truck Over Five Bullets
Class action suit goes after US Customs and Border Patrol for seizing automobiles without giving motorists a hearing before a judge.
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8/23/2017
Indiana: Federal Judge Strikes Down Car Seizure Law
US district court judge finds Indiana car seizure law to be unconstitutional.
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7/18/2017
Washington Supreme Court Orders Return Of Seized BMW
High court in Washington state says police cannot take cars and cash from motorists without specific evidence of a drug crime.
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6/23/2017
California: Federal Appeals Court Overturns Car Seizure Policy
Federal appeals court allows motorists to sue police Los Angeles, California for impounding cars from innocent owners for thirty days.
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4/5/2017
US Justice Department Report Questions Motive Behind Auto Seizures
Inspector general report finds federal seizure of vehicles and cash are rarely connected with criminal convictions.
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1/13/2017
Federal Appeals Court Upholds Ferrari Confiscation
US Court of Appeals says county was right to confiscate Ferrari from owner before he was convicted of DUI.
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1/6/2016
Congress Curtails Automobile And Other Asset Seizures
Congress reins in car confiscation by seizing Justice Department asset seizure funds.
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11/25/2015
New Mexico State Senators Attack Automoble Impounding
New Mexico lawmakers take aim at Albuquerque for ignoring law outlawing the civil forfeiture of automobiles.
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11/11/2015
Los Angeles, California To Seize Spectator Cars
Los Angeles, California city council wants to confiscate cars from street race spectators.
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7/21/2015
Federal Appeals Court Declares Air Fresheners Suspicious
US Court of Appeals rules that driving with air fresheners creates reasonable suspicion of criminal activity.
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7/16/2015
Nevada: Government Must Pay For Taking Cash From Innocent Motorist
Government will pay the $153,002 legal bill racked up by a motorist whose cash was illegally taken during a traffic stop.
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7/15/2015
Illinois: Fake Bankruptcy Filing Releases Cars From Impound
Man figures out that cars are automatically freed from impound lots when a Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition is filed.
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5/27/2015
Ohio: Code Enforcement Officers Personally Liable For Seizing Cars
Ohio Court of Appeals finds code enforcement officers can be held personally liable for towing cars without due process.
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8/1/2014
Feds Confiscate 40 Land Rovers Over VIN Controversy
Federal agency seize 40 old Land Rovers, claiming that they are actually newer vehicles.
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7/24/2014
Canada: Lawmakers Consider Seizing Cars Over Guns
Ontario, Canada Provincial Parliament considers seizing cars from people who drive to the gun range without a transport permit.
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7/23/2014
Texas Motorist Wins $77,500 After Traffic Cops Steal Cash
Estelline, Texas settles with innocent, elderly motorist who had her cash seized during a traffic stop.
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7/22/2014
Bermuda To Seize Cars Over Window Tint
Cars that smell bad or have dark window tint are subject to being impounded in Bermuda.
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5/20/2014
Minnesota Legislature And Supreme Court Take On Car Seizures
Minnesota enacts law cracking down on police car seizure as state Supreme Court hears oral argument in confiscation case.
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3/7/2014
California Cops Arrested Over Impounding Scam
King City, California cops plead not guilty to a car impound scheme.
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10/4/2013
Michigan Legislation Would Boot Cars With Overdue Library Books
Michigan Legislature considers bill to immobilize vehicles owned by alleged debtors.
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8/14/2013
California: Court Overturns LAPD Vehicle Impound Policy
California Superior Court judge finds Los Angeles Police Department car towing policy violates state law.
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12/5/2012
Louisiana Supreme Court Upholds Seizure of Motorist Cash
Louisiana Supreme Court satisfied that vague evidence suffices to confiscate money from motorists.
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7/11/2012
Federal Judge Overrules DC Car Seizure
US District Court rules that Washington, DC cannot confiscate cars during traffic stops without providing its owner a fair hearing.
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6/8/2012
Ohio: Federal Court Says City Can Keep Seized Cars
Federal magistrate rules that city has no constitutional duty to return vehicles impounded as a result of an accident.
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10/13/2011
Judge Absolves FBI Over Ferrari Destroying Joy Ride
US government will pay no damages after a federal agent wrecked a $750,000 Ferrari during a joy ride.
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8/23/2011
California Legislature Considers Limiting DUI Roadblock Use
Legislation would prohibit license violation impounding at drunk driving roadblocks in California.
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7/14/2011
North Carolina to Seize Speeding Cars That Fail to Pull Over
Police to seize and sell motorcycles and cars accused of eluding arrest.
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6/22/2011
Louisiana Legislators Narrowly Reject Car Seizure for Littering
Louisiana comes within two votes of enacting a bill authorizing the seizure of cars being driven by people who litter.
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6/21/2011
US Supreme Court Updates Exclusionary Rule for Automobile Searches
US Supreme Court rules exclusionary rule does not apply unconstitutional car searches prior to 2009.
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6/9/2011
New York: Ferrari Sues Over Seized Ferrari
Federal judge blasts procedures used in Suffolk County, New York to seize vehicles without due process.
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5/31/2011
New Mexico Supreme Court Lets Cops Grab Guns During Stops
Supreme Court allows police to take all firearms from law-abiding motorists during traffic stops.
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4/26/2011
Washington Appeals Court Upholds Mandatory Vehicle Impounds
Washington Court of Appeals endorses mandatory impound periods for drivers accused of various infractions.
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9/1/2010
Canada: Court Faults Police Cash Grab
Ontario, Canada superior court justice slams provincial attorney general and police for unauthorized attempt to pocket $46,078.
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8/3/2010
Oregon Appeals Court Overturns Car Impound On Driver Property
Cars cannot be seized from the driveway of the owner without a warrant, according to Oregon Court of Appeals.
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6/25/2010
South Dakota Supreme Court Upholds Impounding Of Cats
Driving with too many cats creates an imminent safety hazard according to the South Dakota Supreme Court.
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6/2/2010
Minnesota: Appeals Court Upholds Discrimination Suit Against Police
Minnesota Appeals Court fines Minneapolis police who harassed former judge who is black.
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4/2/2010
Arizona: Federal Court Denies Summary Relief To Innocent Motorist Stranded By Cop
Preliminary ruling favors Mesa, Arizona cops who stranded injured, innocent motorist in a dangerous neighborhood.
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3/17/2010
Report Warns Of Private Car Repo Dangers
National Consumer Law Center report outlines concerns with private automobile seizure industry.
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12/21/09
Minnesota Supreme Court: State Can Grab Cars from Innocent Owners
Minnesota Supreme Court eliminates the ability of innocent joint vehicle owners to defend themselves from vehicle confiscation.
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11/10/09
Colorado: Voters Reject Mandatory Vehicle Impound
Seventy percent of voters in Denver, Colorado reject mandatory impounding of cars driven by motorists unable to produce a license.
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9/4/09
Washington Supreme Court Protects Innocent Owners from Car Seizure
Washington State Supreme Court rules that vehicles may not be seized from owners who have not committed any crime.
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8/13/09
Australia: Car Seizure Law Used to Take Bike from Little Girl
Little girl in Victoria, Australia has her mini motorbike seized by local police under anti-hoon laws.
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5/28/09
Illinois: Little City Brings in Big Cash from Towing
Six months of towing cars for the alleged crimes of passengers boosted police revenue 29 percent in Pekin, Illinois.
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5/5/09
Illinois State Police Seize and Keep Desirable Cars for Personal Use
Influential Illinois State Police official gets personal use of a muscle car confiscated from a motorist.
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9/18/08
Delaware Toll Roads to Seize Cars
Police in Delaware have authority to seize any automobile registered to an owner accused of not paying tolls.
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9/10/08
New Zealand Man Loses Car Over Fish
Fisheries agents in New Zealand confiscate a car belonging to a man accused of holding a bag that appeared to contain fish.
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7/20/08
Missouri: Police Caught Driving Impounded Cars
Police in St. Louis seized cars, then freely drove them for months at a time. Perk extended to troubled daughter of police chief.
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7/7/08
Australia: Car Impounded After Leaving Impound Lot
Vehicle impounded in Victoria, Australia for allegedly doing a burnout in the impound lot.
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7/2/08
Illinois: Local Police Seize Cars by the Thousands
Local jurisdictions in Illinois earn thousands by confiscating automobiles from drivers accused of crimes.
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6/30/08
New Mexico Supreme Court OKs Seizing Cars from Accused
New Mexico Supreme Court ruling allows Albuquerque to begin seizing automobiles from motorists not convicted of any crime.
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6/28/08
London Borough Ends Car Impounding
Westminster, England City Council ends vehicle booting and impounding program.
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6/21/08
Illinois Cracks Down on Predatory Towing
FBI sting and a new state law aim to protect consumers from unscrupulous tow truck drivers.
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5/15/08
Federal Appeals Court Limits Illinois Car Seizure
A federal appeals court ruled that Illinois must reform its car seizure rules to allow for due process.
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5/13/08
California: Appeals Court Rules Car Seizure Not Required
California appeals court rules police not liable for crash if car not seized from driver with suspended license or accused of DUI.
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5/5/08
Australia: Police Confiscate $200k Car at Enthusiast Gathering
Police raid on car enthusiast gathering in New South Wales, Australia generates more than $220,000 in revenue.
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4/15/08
Arkansas Appeals Court: No Conflict of Interest for Car Seizures
Arkansas Court of Appeals rules police should continue car confiscation operations despite financial conflicts of interest.
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3/25/08
Australia: Police Celebrate Seizure of Aston Martin
Police in Western Australia are celebrating the seizure of an Aston Martin coupe.
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2/26/08
US Supreme Court to Hear Car Search Case
The US Supreme Court will review an Arizona case that limited the ability of police to search automobiles.
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1/31/08
Florida Appeals Court Finds Car Seizure Illegal
Florida appeals court rules car seizure program unconstitutional.
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1/20/08
Australia: Car Seizures Hit $1 Million Profit Mark
Victoria, Australia seized 3437 vehicles to generate more than $1 million in revenue.
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1/10/08
California Toll Agency Wants Power to Seize Cars
To get the most revenue possible, the Bay Area, California Toll Authority wants the power to seize cars and paychecks.
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12/23/07
Arizona: Police Strand Tourist Family in Dangerous Neighborhood
A foreign motorist loses his car while visiting Mesa, Arizona for a family wedding.
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12/10/07
California Seizing Cars Over Year-Old Allegations
Because the California sideshow law expired, police are now seizing cars accused of violating the law more than one year ago.
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12/3/07
California: Car Seizure Question May be Put to Voters
The California Insurance Commissioner offers ballot proposition to seize automobiles belonging to uninsured owners.
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11/12/07
Wyoming: Bogus DUI Report Used to Seize $3.3 Million
A Wyoming Highway Patrol officer is fired for calling in a fake DUI report in order to stop and search a pickup truck.
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11/8/07
Texas: Police Seize Cars for Personal Profit
FBI investigates conflict of interest as Corpus Christi, Texas police officers get sweetheart deals on seized automobiles.
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10/25/07
Louisiana: Police Grab Car from Innocent Woman
An innocent woman loses her car in Alexandria, Louisiana due to a database error. Police and DMV refuse to compensate the motorist.
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10/22/07
Illinois: Village to Seize Cars Over Aftermarket Mufflers
Rossville, Illinois is looking to seize cars that use aftermarket exhaust systems that may be louder than stock.
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10/12/07
Connecticut Towing Firm Tows Rival Towing Firm Tow Truck
A towing company seized a tow truck belonging to a competitor in New Haven, Connecticut.
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10/10/07
Tennessee: Cars Seized Over Packs of Cigarettes
Revenue agents surveilling Tennessee residents who buy cigarettes in a nearby state. Those found with two cartons will have their car confiscated.
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10/2/07
Canada: Ontario Grabs Thirty Cars in One Day
Thirty cars were seized in an Ontario, Canada police blitz as a new policy took effect declaring speeding the equivalent of street racing.
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9/21/07
Appeals Court Rules Indian Tribes May Seize Cars
Federal appeals court ruling upholds the right of Indian casinos to confiscate automobiles.
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9/18/07
Mississippi: City to Seize Expensive Cars Over Unpaid Tickets
The mayor of Jackson, Mississippi will tow expensive cars over a single unpaid ticket.
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9/8/07
Los Angeles Police Look to Resume Car Confiscation
Los Angeles, California police expected to resume car seizure police which has generated $14 million in revenue.
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9/6/07
Illinois: Cars with Loud Stereos to be Seized
A new Rockford, Illinois ordinance allows police to seize any car based on the accusation that it played loud music.
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9/4/07
California Legislature Revives Car Seizure Law
The California state Assembly revives the sideshow law that allows police officers to impound any car merely accused of spinning a tire.
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8/27/07
Canada: Auto, Cash Seizures Bring Big Money
Ontario, Canada Attorney General reports the province has seized or frozen $15.1 million in assets, including cars accused of street racing.
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8/15/07
Canada Introduces $10,000 Speeding Ticket
Ontario, Canada applies street racing penalties to motorists who are not racing anybody.
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8/8/07
Illinois: Cook County Car Seizures to Net $1.7 Million
Seizing cars from motorists merely accused of crimes will net Cook County, Illinois $1.7 million a year.
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7/27/07
California Supreme Court Overturns Car Seizure Ordinance
The California Supreme Court says cities may no longer seize automobiles from people merely accused of a crime.
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7/23/07
New York Seizes Cab to Eliminate Free Competition
New York City cab commission seizes a classic taxi because it offered free rides to tourists.
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7/15/07
Chicago Orders City Impound Lots to be Filled with Seized Cars
With impound lots at 80 percent capacity already, Chicago, Illinois looks to earn an extra $25 million by seizing 25,000 cars a year.
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7/8/07
Australian Police Move to Censor YouTube Videos
Police in South Australia seek to censor videos depicting motorists revving engines or doing burnouts.
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6/29/07
South Dakota Supreme Court Upholds Jury Trial for Car Seizures
The South Dakota Supreme Court rules that government may not seize automobiles without giving the owner a fair trial by jury.
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6/26/07
Illinois County Admits to Seizing Cars to Generate Cash
Lee County, Illinois is counting on a new car seizure program to boost revenue.
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6/2/07
UK Police Seize Car, Strand Innocent Man
Police reliance on erroneous insurance database information seize the car of an innocent man, stranding him over weekend holiday.
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5/30/07
Illinois: City to Seize Cars Over Unrelated Crimes
Those accused of offenses not necessarily related to the use of an automobile will have their car seized in Oak Forest, Illinois.
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5/14/07
UK: Police Seize Cars for Mere Speeding
Scotland, UK police use anti-social behavior orders to seize automobiles for minor traffic violations.
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5/11/07
Australia: Home Raided, Car Seized Based on Phone Tip
A West Australian city makes its first automobile seizure based solely on evidence from someone who called in to complain.
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5/10/07
New Jersey: Cop Arrested for Stealing from Seized Cars
An Irvington, New Jersey police officer is accused of stealing from motorists after their cars were seized.
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5/7/07
Montana: Mayor Gets Booted for 15 Parking Tickets
The mayor of Missoula, Montana has his own car booted for failure to pay parking tickets.
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4/16/07
Ontario, Canada Introduces $10,000 Speeding Ticket
Speeding alongside another car could cost $10,000 under a government proposal in Ontario, Canada.
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4/13/07
UK: Classic Car Wrongly Seized, Crushed
London, UK borough officials refuse to compensate the owner of a $60,000 classic car wrongly crushed by meter maids.
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4/12/07
UK Government to Break Into Homes Over Parking Tickets
The UK parliament is considering legislation to allow forcible entry into homes to recover parking ticket debt.
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4/11/07
Alaska: Cars to be Seized Over Speeding Tickets
Alaska is considering legislation allowing cities to seize cars permanently over a handful of speeding tickets.
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4/9/07
Australia: Cars Seized Based on Hearsay
Victoria, Australia seizes cars based on vague complaints about anti-social driving.
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4/4/07
Brooksville, Florida Backs of on Home Seizures for Parking Tickets
Brooksville, Florida decides against seizing homes for parking violations after intense public opposition.
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3/4/07
UK: Towing Company Holds Ferrari Hostage
A towing company placed a boot on a Ferrari parked at its London, UK home in the hopes of seizing the vehicle.
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3/1/07
North Dakota Gives Police Profit Incentive for Property Seizure
North Dakota legislature approves measure allowing police to keep seized cash.
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2/23/07
Baltimore, Maryland Seizes, Sells Vehicle Over Three Parking Tickets
Baltimore, Maryland seizes and sells a $6700 pickup over three parking tickets.
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2/19/07
North Korea to Confiscate Japanese Automobiles
North Korea bans the use of Japanese cars and orders their confiscation.
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2/10/07
Michigan: Car Seized Despite Legal License Plates
Michigan State University police seize a car belonging to a student that had valid license plates.
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2/4/07
Canada: Sick Woman Abandoned in Freezing Impound Lot
Towing company in Vancouver, Canada abandons a sick, elderly woman inside her car overnight.
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1/18/07
Maryland: Grandmother Beats Towing Fees
Towson, Maryland grandmother successfully fights the towing of her car at a Barnes and Noble bookstore.
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1/17/07
Arizona: Seizure Law Brings Big Cash
A new Arizona automobile seizure law is bringing cities and counties millions in annual revenue.
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1/12/07
California Appeals Court Green Lights Car Seizures
Text of a California Appeals Court ruling upholding the constitutionality of car seizures without a trial.
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1/10/07
New Mexico: City to Seize Vehicles Over DUI Accusations
Santa Fe, New Mexico seeks to make $300,000 a year by seizing cars from those accused three times of DUI.
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1/7/07
Florida: Police Hope to Seize Motorcycles Without Trial
Florida Highway Patrol seized 344 motorcycles last year by accusing owners of a felony.
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12/20/06
California Appeals Decision Limits Car Confiscation
Full text of a California Appeals Court decision limiting car seizures outside the home of a motorist.
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12/19/06
Massachusetts Cuts Back on Car Seizures
Three Massachusetts counties have backed off on car seizure practices following bad publicity.
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12/14/06
Illinois: Police Sued Over Car Seizures
A car wash owner is suing Stone Park, Illinois police for seizing the cars of innocent customers for cash.
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12/4/06
New York: Man Charged to Retrieve His Stolen Car
A disabled veteran must pay for the release of his own vehicle in Newburgh, New York.
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12/4/06
Washington: Big Fines for Avoiding Driving on Slick Roads
Motorists in Kirkland, Washington had their cars towed and faced large fees for avoiding a treacherous snowstorm
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12/3/06
UK: Police Charge Motorist for Illegally Seized Car
West Yorkshire, UK police seized the car belonging to an innocent man then attempted to charge him $200 for its return.
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11/30/06
Illinois: Federal Court Strikes Down Car Seizure Law
Unconstitutional car seizure ordinance could cost Waukegan, Illinois millions in refunds.
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11/15/06
Virginia: Koons Collision Repair Holds Car Hostage
Koons auto body shop refuses to release a customer car unless payment is made for an improper repair.
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11/1/06
Baltimore, Maryland Tows Legally Parked Cars
A city councilman in Baltimore, Maryland introduces an ordinance to allow cars to be legally parked for more than 48-hours without being towed.
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10/28/06
New Jersey County Seizes Family Cars
Morris County, New Jersey seizes family vehicles over a prescription drug accusation.
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10/26/06
Uganda: Police Seize Government Cars
Police in Uganda have seized official vehicles belonging to the Ministry of Health.
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10/18/06
Scotland: Police Charge Car Break-in Victim $590
Scotland, UK Police seize vandalized car and send a $590 bill to the victim.
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10/16/06
Iowa: Cops Seize Cars to Keep for Themselves and Family
Law enforcement officials in Polk County, Iowa have been seizing cars, then purchasing them for friends and family for as little as one cent.
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10/6/06
Michigan Wrongly Seizes Church Parking Lot, Pastor Wants it Back
A Michigan county improperly seized and sold a church parking lot. The pastor fights in the state supreme court to get it back.
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10/4/06
Arizona: Good Samaritans Face Automobile Seizure
Failing to verify the citizenship status of passengers could result in automobile seizure, even when transporting victims to a hospital.
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9/28/06
Kentucky: Cops Stop Men for Driving with Cash
Lexington, Kentucky makes millions by confiscating cash from motorists.
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9/26/06
California: Police Car Booting Extortion Scheme Foiled
Former reserve cop pleads guilty to forgery in scheme that made thousands from booting cars.
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9/11/06
Mississippi: Woman Charged $1000 to Retrieve Missing Car
Jackson, Mississippi wants to charge a woman $1000 to retrieve her car after the city held it for months without telling her.
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9/6/06
UAE Seizing Cars for Red Light Camera Tickets
Cars snapped by red light cameras are now subject to seizure in the United Arab Emirates.
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9/6/06
Illinois: Chicago Suburbs Begin Car Seizures for Cash
Kane County, Illinois ramps up automobile seizures from those accused of DUI.
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9/3/06
Orem, Utah Confiscates Cars for Speeding
Orem, Utah police collect thousands by confiscating cars for mere speeding.
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8/25/06
Texas: Cameras, Seizures Fund Spending Sprees
Texas cities go on spending sprees with money seized from motorists.
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8/19/06
Federal Appeals Court: Driving With Money is a Crime
Eighth Circuit Appeals Court ruling says police may seize cash from motorists even in the absence of any evidence that a crime has been committed.
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8/7/06
Massachusetts: Ex-Criminals Use Police Powers to Seize Cars for Profit
Ex-criminals use official badges and police powers to seize cars for big profit in Massachusetts.
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8/7/06
California: LAPD Prostitutes Hook 500 Cars
Los Angeles Police Department officers act like prostitutes in order to seize automobiles, netting $325,000 for the department.
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8/1/06
Florida: Police Seize Lamborghini in Small Time Bust
Police in Stuart, Florida use a small time drug bust as an excuse to drive away with a $150,000 exotic Italian sports car.
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7/17/06
France Seizes Pair of Supercars Worth $300,000
A speed trap will net the French government over $300,000 from just two vehicles that were over the limit.
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7/10/06
Florida Supreme Court Allows Car Seizure Without Trial
The Florida Supreme Court allows cities to enact ordinances allowing seizure of vehicles belonging to those accused, not convicted, of misdemeanors.
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7/8/06
France: Speeding Foreign Cars to be Impounded
New laws in France force tourists to bring large amounts of cash to pay tickets or face having their cars confiscated.
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6/30/06
New Jersey: Impound Charge Imposed on Crash Victim Family
The family of a fatal accident is being charged an impound fee for the vehicle in which their teenage son died.
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6/30/06
California: Watch a Street Race, Go to Jail
Elk Grove, California imposes big fines and car confiscation on those accused of street racing and merely being close to one.
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6/23/06
Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Confiscate Cars for Cruising
City council in Milwaukee, Wisconsin tries to craft ordinance to confiscate cars for cruising.
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6/5/06
UK: Car Confiscator Has His Own Car and Money Confiscated
Portsmouth, UK Crown Court determined a man who made a million by clamping cars may have his assets seized.
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5/18/06
Maryland: Baltimore Cop Jails Lost Baseball Fans
Baltimore, Maryland police officer seizes the car of two Virginia baseball fans, jailing them because they were lost.
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5/12/06
Tennessee: Police Seize Wheelchair from Crash Victim
Nashville, Tennessee seize wheelchair of disabled man hit by truck. Refuse to return it unless he pays $85 fee.
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5/3/06
Aurora Sets Up Noise Ticket Traps
A sweeping noise ordinance allows Aurora, Illinois to set up sting operations to seize noisy cars.
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5/1/06
Florida: Man Arrested for Driving Off with Boot
Palm Beach, Florida police threaten a man with five years in prison for the crime of driving his own vehicle after it had been booted.
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4/29/06
Connecticut: Bridgeport Considers Confiscating Cars from the Disabled
The city council in Bridgeport, Connecticut set aside an effort to exempt the disabled from the city's multi-million-dollar car confiscation program.
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4/27/06
Delaware Confiscates Plates from Uninsured Vehicles
Delaware government tracks private insurance activity and confiscates license plates of those accused of being uninsured.
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4/26/06
Peoria, Illinois Enacts Car Confiscation Ordinance
Peoria, Illinois passes ordinance to confiscate cars with loud stereos without due process.
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4/24/06
Cleveland, Ohio to Use Cameras to Seize Cars
Cleveland, Ohio plans to seize cars over unpaid parking tickets or photo enforcement citations.
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4/21/06
UK: Police Anxious to Seize $100,000 Ferrari
Police in Oxford, UK want to seize a Ferrari sports car
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4/14/06
UK: Disabled Woman's Home Raided Over Parking Ticket
UK council bailiffs raid the home of a 73-year-old disabled woman over parking tickets.
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4/11/06
Utah: Police Confiscate Validly Registered Car
Utah sheriff's deputy confiscates woman's car even though she carried proof of valid registration.
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4/9/06
Connecticut: Yale Lecturers Sue City Over Car Confiscation
New Haven, Connecticut takes cars from the home of Yale lecturers without warning for owing as little as $33 in taxes.
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4/5/06
California: Home Owners Association Confiscates Resident Car
Homeowners associations will confiscate vehicles and sell them at auction without notice.
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3/15/06
Minneapolis, Minnesota Seizes 600 Vehicles from Confused Motorists
Minneapolis, Minnesota seizes 600 vehicles for violating confusing snow emergency rules, generating $103,200 in fines.
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2/26/06
UK: Police Target Expensive Cars for Seizure
Too Much Bling, Give Us a Ring campaign in Leicestershire, UK targets expensive cars for confiscation.
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2/22/06
UK: Meter Maids Visit Home to Demand $1100
Bailiffs in Burnley, UK threaten to take $1100 in property out of a home over two parking tickets.
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2/20/06
New Haven, CT Expands Car Confiscation Program
New Haven, Connecticut looking to make $9.5 million this year by seizing automobiles.
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2/10/06
Fresno, California Makes $5 Million Seizing Cars
Last year Fresno, California seized 28,000 cars generating $5 million from fees alone.
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1/30/06
St. Louis Passes Sweeping Car Confiscation Ordinance
A new St. Louis, Missouri ordinance allows police to confiscate luxury automobiles with high-end stereos.
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1/16/06
Connecticut: Counting on Parking Revenue Does Not Pay Off
New Haven, Connecticut's overreliance on parking ticket revenue leads to a $7 million budget deficit.
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1/14/06
New Zealand Seizes $180,000 Car Over Squealing Tires
New Zealand Police seize a $180,000 Mercedes-Benz without trial by claiming it lost traction.
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12/28/05
99.9% of Those Stopped in Connecticut DUI Roadblock Are Innocent
Just one motorist stopped at holiday sobriety roadblocks in Danbury, Connecticut charged with DUI.
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12/26/05
Bridgeport, Connecticut Seizes 21 Cars Just in Time for Christmas
The Bootfinder car seizure system in Bridgeport, Connecticut is bringing in millions in revenue.
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12/20/05
Schools Seize Drivers Licenses Over Bad Grades
Nearly half the states have enacted laws allowing seizure of a minor's right to drive over truancy or even bad grades.
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12/14/05
Ninth Circuit Rules Against Driveway Auto Seizure
A Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling says cities must have a compelling public reason to seize a vehicle.
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