One quibble with the titles of the series. Pirates in Blue implies that the police are somehow acting outside the law. As your analysis demonstrates, the MGSF was acting within the law. They were privateers, not pirates.
Also, I think it's helpful to highlight the fact that in the civil proceeding the right to be represented by an attorney is lost. Caught with a dime bag of pot and you're entitled to an attorney. The state can take all the money in your wallet at the time of your arrest, and you're on your own to contest the forfeiture.
Spot, your semi-retired status is showing.
Current filing fees in Hennepin County for a new case are $322. Each motion or response to a motion is $100. Fax filings are $25 for each portion of 50 pages.
And don't try to file anything on Wednesday afternoons; the records center is trying to give its overworked staff a chance to catch up and won't accept filings after 1:30 those days.
Why, MNO, it was just $252; I'm sure of it . . .
Jim, you're right, but calling them privateers lacks a certain, je ne sais qua, impact. And as the action filed against the Metro Gang Strke Force suggests, some cops acted as pirates, too.
But, it is the apalling nature of the law, even when enforced as written, that Spot wants to emphasize in upcoming posts about civil forfeiture.
Is there evidence of officers cleaning people out for posession of a dime bag (a petty misdemeanor, by the way)?
Commenting by HaloScan
