http://www.news9.com/story/32168555/ohp-uses-new-device-to-seize-money-used-during-the-commission-of-a-crime
You may have heard of civil asset forfeiture.
That’s where police can seize your property and cash without first
proving you committed a crime; without a warrant and without arresting
you, as long as they suspect that your property is somehow tied to a
crime.
Now, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol has a device that also allows them to seize money in your bank account or on prepaid cards.
It’s called an ERAD, or Electronic Recovery and Access to Data machine, and state police began using 16 of them last month.
Here’s how it works. If a trooper suspects you may have money tied to
some type of crime, the highway patrol can scan any cards you have and
seize the money.
“We’re gonna look for different factors in the way that you’re
acting,” Oklahoma Highway Patrol Lt. John Vincent said. “We’re gonna
look for if there’s a difference in your story. If there’s someway that
we can prove that you’re falsifying information to us about your
business.”
Troopers insist this isn’t just about seizing cash.
“I know that a lot of people are just going to focus on the seizing
money. That’s a very small thing that’ s happening now. The largest part
that we have found … the biggest benefit has been the identity
theft,” Vincent said.
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