If you last saw it in the small town of Hamlet, N.C., it might have been impounded by the police on low-level charges and then sold for scrap to junkyards in a series of what appear to be irregular and under-monitored transactions. “In police files were two court orders, signed by a state district court judge, but otherwise left mostly blank. Those pre-signed court orders, which judicial experts say are extremely unusual and do not seem appropriate, appear to have been copied and then used to dispose of at least seven vehicles.” [News and Observer last November via Balko]
More from New York City: “TLC Wrongly Accused Hundreds of Being Illegal Cabbies in Past Year.” And when they accuse, they can and do seize your car, which you may have to go to a lot of trouble to get back. [DNAInfo] Related: “City investigators wrongfully accused a black man of being an illegal taxi driver after they spotted him dropping off his wife at work, believing she was a white livery cab passenger, a lawsuit charges.” [DNAInfo via Alkon]
3 Comments
“We’re From The Government. We’re Here To Steal Your Car.”
I actually borrowed that tweetline from @Popehat, because it perfectly states what’s going on…
When these TLC inspectors lie to judges about statements made by the accused and their statements are proven false, what is the penalty to the inspectors? I must have missed it in the linked articles.
If there is no penalty, then there seems to be no reason why these inspectors should let a valid defense get in the way of seizing cars and incurring unjustified expenses and inconveniences to their victims. Why is a situation where perjury is rewarded permitted to exist?
“Why is a situation where perjury is rewarded permitted to exist?”
Because for unfathomable reasons, judges and juries generally refuse to accept that there is any possibility that a government agent/official would commit perjury unless they are confronted with undeniable proof of false statements.