A year and a half ago, we had the strange US Supreme Court case of Timbs v. Indiana where the State of Indiana argued that it was lawful to seize someone's [hypothetical] expensive sports car for going five miles over the speed limit - a position they still hold.
Way back when, Tyson Timbs was arrested and plead guilty to selling heroin (to undercover police officers). They then seized his Land Rover even though it was purchased via an inheritance rather than with drug money. He has been in court ever since to get it back.
Well, despite all that, Timbs got his Land Rover back and it only took him seven years and three different courts (with repeated bouncing around). The State of Indiana has appealed the present ruling by the lowest court to the Indiana Supreme Court which hears this case for the third time.
So why is Indiana fighting this so hard even though they are so clearly in the wrong? Because big money is at stake. My take is that they'll lose a major funding source for their police departments, if they can't steal like this. And that will have to be covered by tax revenue.
Timbs gets his Land Rover back
Way back when, Tyson Timbs was arrested and plead guilty to selling heroin (to undercover police officers). They then seized his Land Rover even though it was purchased via an inheritance rather than with drug money. He has been in court ever since to get it back.
Well, despite all that, Timbs got his Land Rover back and it only took him seven years and three different courts (with repeated bouncing around). The State of Indiana has appealed the present ruling by the lowest court to the Indiana Supreme Court which hears this case for the third time.
So why is Indiana fighting this so hard even though they are so clearly in the wrong? Because big money is at stake. My take is that they'll lose a major funding source for their police departments, if they can't steal like this. And that will have to be covered by tax revenue.
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