Law enforcement accused of ‘policing for profit’ when it comes to war on drugs.

[kevinpate]

I'm against the practice of towing lawbreakers cars to whatever impound lot they use when a better option is to allow a relative to come & get the vehicle and take it home. This practice places a financial hardship on the family and no doubt adds to the number of chases that threaten public safety.

I can understand the frustration, but it's not as simple as a relative come and get it. Joe Sixpack can leave his car on the side of the road unattended until ma, bubba or someone from work can scoop it up with a spare key. But if the govt. takes the driver and leaves the car unattended, it's going to deal with the headaches that go along with any damages, theft, etc. So, the govt. would eat the cost of sitting until someone shows.

But, then who gets to show? Do LEO's rely on the word of the intoxicated person? Can he or she truly consent to turning the car over to someone, or consent to leave it unattended? What level of kinship is necessary? What proof will suffice? How many appropriate peeps know where adequate documentation is on a moment's notice to scoop it up, deal with pets or children, and pop out late pm or early early am?

Of all the headaches, taking the word of a drunk and the cost of waiting seem the biggest obstacles. Most FOP's will say their community is way understaffed. Is the cost to society appropriate to endure vs. the cost of impound, which is attributable to an owner or user's decision to drink and drive?

Not seeing it myself, though I do agree impound fees are extremely high, as are many tow fees.

[BBatesokc]

I can understand the frustration, but it's not as simple as a relative come and get it. Joe Sixpack can leave his car on the side of the road unattended until ma, bubba or someone from work can scoop it up with a spare key. But if the govt. takes the driver and leaves the car unattended, it's going to deal with the headaches that go along with any damages, theft, etc. So, the govt. would eat the cost of sitting until someone shows.

But, then who gets to show? Do LEO's rely on the word of the intoxicated person? Can he or she truly consent to turning the car over to someone, or consent to leave it unattended? What level of kinship is necessary? What proof will suffice? How many appropriate peeps know where adequate documentation is on a moment's notice to scoop it up, deal with pets or children, and pop out late pm or early early am?

Of all the headaches, taking the word of a drunk and the cost of waiting seem the biggest obstacles. Most FOP's will say their community is way understaffed. Is the cost to society appropriate to endure vs. the cost of impound, which is attributable to an owner or user's decision to drink and drive?

Not seeing it myself, though I do agree impound fees are extremely high, as are many tow fees.

True - however, law enforcement does often allow you to have someone come get your car. Just another example that the strongest power of LE is the power of when to exercise discretion when enforcing the law and when not to.

On a related note, for many months now LE has had the power to impound any vehicle used in the commission of prostitution, a drive by or a police chase. The car is held for 90-days and the owner pays around $2,000 to get it back.

[MustangGT]

I'm against the practice of towing lawbreakers cars to whatever impound lot they use when a better option is to allow a relative to come & get the vehicle and take it home. This practice places a financial hardship on the family and no doubt adds to the number of chases that threaten public safety.

Only if the arrested driver hold harmless the agency who took the driver to jail. Leaving cars like that on a public road tend to be broken into. Want to leave them there then the law enforcement agency CANNOT be held responsible to a theft or burglary. You cannot have it both ways.

[kevinpate]

True - however, law enforcement does often allow you to have someone come get your car. Just another example that the strongest power of LE is the power of when to exercise discretion when enforcing the law and when not to.

On a related note, for many months now LE has had the power to impound any vehicle used in the commission of prostitution, a drive by or a police chase. The car is held for 90-days and the owner pays around $2,000 to get it back.

Thanks BBates. I wasn't aware. I thought the only time they let someone else drive off is if the person was already present at the stop, or the driver wasn't being taken in after being stopped.

[BBatesokc]

Thanks BBates. I wasn't aware. I thought the only time they let someone else drive off is if the person was already present at the stop, or the driver wasn't being taken in after being stopped.

Really just depends on the officer. Even when I was arrested in 2005 - quite the production I might add, 3 unmarked cars and 3 marked cars and they even had officers with video cameras recording it out in the open - they drove my car to my home and parked it in the driveway.

I see Johns get arrested and sometimes they are allowed to call someone to get their car and sometimes they are not.

A few years ago when a stripper from ValleyBrook was found passed out in her car on the shoulder on the highway (she was high on dope). They actually drove her home in a police car and had a tow truck take her car to her house (even though they found dope in her car) - all because she said she could help them make criminal charges against then local defense attorney Mike Gassaway. It's amazing how much discretionary power is given to police.

Back to the 90-day impoundment…… some police officers will actually tell a defendant, "just add a relative or friend to your title and they can come pick up the car immediately and then you get the car back and don't have to pay the 90-day impound fee." But, if they are not inclined, then they don't tell you.

[Jeepnokc]

I am speaking only to DUI arrests but Edmond very rarely impounds the car. They ask the driver if they want it left avid they will move it to a legal parking space. I very rarely see it with other agencies like ocpd or ohp. One thing to consider also is that the chemical testing must be done within two hours of arrest to be valid so time is an issue and they don't want to waste it by waiting for someone to pick up car. However, mostly, I think a lot of them just want to cost the driver more money as I have a lot of cases where there is a sober person that can drive there present or the car is in their own driveway and they still tow it.

[BBatesokc]

I read a letter today from OCPD regarding a seizure. They sent a letter to a man letting him know they were going to seize his home - on what grounds - they had previously raided his house and found approx. 1.5oz of marijuana. Therefore he is deemed a drug dealer and the cops want to take the man's house from him.

[BBatesokc]

Question?: I remember I used to could go onto OSCN and see a listing of all the Oklahoma County asset forfeitures currently before the court. However, I can no longer find that feature on OSCN. Anyone in the know here know if it is still available and if so, can you kindly post a link?

[kevinpate]

BBates, Fiddled some this am on your request. If there is a way, it is certainly not readily apparent. I will look some more.

[onthestrip]

I read a letter today from OCPD regarding a seizure. They sent a letter to a man letting him know they were going to seize his home - on what grounds - they had previously raided his house and found approx. 1.5oz of marijuana. Therefore he is deemed a drug dealer and the cops want to take the man's house from him.

Seize a home over 1.5oz of pot..? Something has to change, this is bogus. Pot found and now they get to seize house, sell it and buy new cars, guns, etc...? Absolutely bogus.

[Bunty]

Seize a home over 1.5oz of pot..? Something has to change, this is bogus. Pot found and now they get to seize house, sell it and buy new cars, guns, etc...? Absolutely bogus.

If true, the cops should spy on rich people for pot and really clean up big time with asset forfeiture. After all, the law seems to assume you have no business having more than one joint, unless you're in business to get rich. The needs of the OKC police department are surely huge, and the proceeds from a $1,000,000 mansion could buy a big bunch of the latest and most fashionable in bullet proof vests.

[zookeeper]

I read a letter today from OCPD regarding a seizure. They sent a letter to a man letting him know they were going to seize his home - on what grounds - they had previously raided his house and found approx. 1.5oz of marijuana. Therefore he is deemed a drug dealer and the cops want to take the man's house from him.

That is scandal material. Is the letter public? That is an incredible abuse of power. I mean NBS Nightly News scandal material.
Sometimes it takes shining lights on these kinds of cases to slow down abuse by LE.

[BBatesokc]

That is scandal material. Is the letter public? That is an incredible abuse of power. I mean NBS Nightly News scandal material.
Sometimes it takes shining lights on these kinds of cases to slow down abuse by LE.

Sadly, its not only true, but not uncommon. Police and our DA's office don't regularly go after million dollar mansions because they are occupied by people who will not roll over and can afford million dollar lawyers.

This is a $30,000 home and I have a copy of the letter in my possession. If I can get permission to post a redacted version I will - but, its no silver bullet - its business as usual.

You'll notice the disgrace of a police chief Bill Citty uses these monies for cool toys and such but NEVER uses the money to buy things like dash cams for OCPD patrol cars. Most people don't realize OCPD patrol cars do not have dash cams. There is only one reason for this - they know their own officers will be recorded doing things the public doesn't like. Citty had GPS put on all the cars - not for officer safety - but so he could crack down on the rampant abuse he knows that goes on but only enforces against officers he doesn't like.

[TaoMaas]

Seize a home over 1.5oz of pot..? Something has to change, this is bogus. Pot found and now they get to seize house, sell it and buy new cars, guns, etc...? Absolutely bogus.

What if it wasn't even your pot, but your teenage son's? And you'd been letting him drive your car when he went out on weekends and they found some seeds in the carpet, so now you lose your car, too? When they first passed this law, I knew it was a bad, bad thing because it suddenly turned law enforcement into a money-making business.

[Bunty]

Since, murderers, rapists and child molesters aren't likely in the business of doing such disgusting crime to make big money, I reckon they get a nice break and are given the freedom to decide what to do with their houses, cars and other assets before going to prison. Maybe legal bills gobble up what assets they have. Anyway, such a policy gives cops less motivation to go after real criminals menacing society. No one should have to lose any assets from the justice system on marijuana charges alone.