Unconstitutional forfeitures expand in Virginia

The expansion of the corporatist prison state means that not only are authorities illegally seizing property from folks who haven't even been convicted. Now - on an increasing basis - they're seizing items from people who haven't even been charged.

Police are now seizing wallets, money, cars, and other items from people just for acting "suspiciously." Authorities often claim the money came from drug dealing or other illegal activity. But no charges are ever filed. Cops just take the money, and you never hear about it again.

Carroll County, Virginia, has become an expanding hotbed of these forfeitures - which are clearly unconstitutional.

In one case in that county, a man had $17,400 taken from him without even being charged.

This high-handed theft has been going on to some extent for years, but the problem is still growing - with almost no legislative attempts to rein it in.

I think it's time for lawmakers to put their feet down against this modern highway robbery.

(Source: http://www.galaxgazette.com/cgi-bin/c2.cgi?055+article+News+20090818142225055055008)