Albuquerque concedes forfeiture was illegal, continues with illegal forfeitures

[Cletus]

Something else that happens in New Mexico is some "native American" tribes use police power to commit highway robbery on people driving through. Interstates get patrolled by State Police and County Sheriffs departments and tribal police. They try to intimidate people into letting them search their vehicles with the standard "you don't have to but we will hold you here til a K-9 team can arrive and "sniff" outside the vehicle. Most people let them search and that's when they play the cash money game or if they find a firearm. Even legally carried firearms. They run the serial numbers and when they don't get reported as stolen they demand to see a receipt for the firearm. A lot of people don't carry a receipt with them so the tribal police tell them they are confiscating the weapon and if the people can get a receipt they will return it. Many of these people are out of state's and just don't bother to try and get their weapons back. Until they address this kind of crap I will go around New Mexico. I live in Arizona and I don't need to go through their stinkin state to get to Colorado to visit family and friends.

I have lived in New Mexico for almost 23 years and the only incident of the type you described that I have ever heard of was the tribal police department of Acoma Pueblo. They were stopping people on the public (state) roads that ran through tribal land and searching vehicles. When it was reported, BIA and the state shut them down real quick. That was some nonsense ordered by Acoma's tribal governor because he didn't like some of the Pueblo's compacts with the state.

It may have happened elsewhere in isolated instances, but it is most certainly not a widespread practice.

I am sure New Mexico can handle you not wanting to visit.

[Cletus]

I wonder if there is a 'home rule' issue here. In other words, until the NM SC decides the constitutionality of the central (state) government proscribing conduct of the local (city) government, that it's still unsettled. The Ohio SC has ruled in favor of the central government. Hence, in Ohio, it'd be curtains for this practice if outlawed. Just speculating on whey they are violating the law in continuing this abhorrent practice. Thanks for the heads up.

Governor Martinez gave much support to that law when it was before the legislature. I know violation of it is not sanctioned by her office.

[decedent]

New Mexico is a deep Blue state. Democrats don't have to follow the law.

Can you offer an example?

[DGUtley]

Making lawyers rich ....

What's wrong with making lawyers rich?

[resister]

What's wrong with making lawyers rich?

It tends to make the client poor occasionally .

[resister]

Can you offer an example?

Clinton family

[decedent]

Clinton family

I don't think they're from New Mexico.

[resister]

I don't think they're from New Mexico.

At least we both seem to agree they are above the law

[donttread]

...seizure of ill-gotten gains.

However it is supposed to play out the rich white collar crooks get high priced defence . Madoff had Sorkin, not exactly a "public defender". Of course he did a lousy job, possibly because I believe he had invested with Bernie?
Bernie's big mistake: He scammed the rich. Jeff Skilling one of the corporate pension fund frauds at Enron get what 14 years when it was all said and done ? Bernie got more than most murderers . You don't $#@! with the rich in this country.

[donttread]

What's wrong with making lawyers rich?

That's a very deep well. Lawyers are "necessary" legally for way too many activities. That and the 169 billed hours a week.
But in this case the issue is that the "drug dealer" gets his assets taken without a conviction and gets bargain basement defense and sometimes doesn't get his stuff back even if he's not convicted. The corrupt white collar types pay big bucks for defence and fines but generally aren't thrown in jail for 30 years.
First of all we are supposed to believe in innocent until proven guilty so asset forfiture is just wrong. Secondly it is misused as a municipal income source . Lastly and worstly it's differential enforcement is a tool of tyranny.