Pubdate: Tue, 07 Apr 2015
Source: Albuquerque Journal (NM)
Copyright: 2015 Albuquerque Journal
Contact:  http://www.abqjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/10
Author: Kelita Jane Smith

High Price of Forfeitures

IS NOBODY ABLE TO POLICE THE POLICE?

HOW AND WHY we have let the police engage in what is essentially 
racketeering is beyond my comprehension. The fact that we seem to 
have little ability to control the police troubles me terribly. 
Because our taxes pay for what police do, we are complicit when they 
unjustly harm people and seize their property.

Today, an acquaintance of mine told me about an incident in which he 
was pulled over and told the officer that he'd had one drink. The 
officer put him through several tests, including a Breathalyzer, 
which he easily passed.

To his astonishment and dismay, the officer arrested him anyway; he 
spent two days in jail and they kept his car for nearly a year. 
Though there was no ticket issued or charges made, it cost him over 
three thousand dollars in "storage fees" to get his car back. And the 
police don't seem to understand why so many law-abiding people detest 
and distrust them.

Bottom line, police are out of control and nobody seems to be able to 
police the police. It is un-American!

KELITA JANE SMITH

Santa Fe
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