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2010-02-15 -Lurid Crime Tales-

State lawmakers work on bills to limit property seizures by police

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Posted by Fred 2010-02-15 00:00|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top

#1 Motorists must pay $900, plus towing and storage fees, to get their vehicles back; otherwise, they become property of the seizing agency and usually are sold at auction.

Of course nothing to do, nothing at all mind you... with gangster towing companies and crooked cop kickbacks. This is Deetroit, right? Let me see, what Federal Bureau might be responsible for having a look into this type of activitiy?

Posted by Besoeker 2010-02-15 04:17|| 2010-02-15 04:17|| Front Page Top

#2 What will off-duty policemen drive if they can't steal people's cars legally?

Posted by Perfesser 2010-02-15 09:54|| 2010-02-15 09:54|| Front Page Top

#3 The seizure and forfeiture of property and cash has gotten out of control everywhere, not just Detroit. Forfeiture gives the police a vested interest in on-going criminal enterprises like the drug trade. Economics is all about incentives. If a police department can make a good living from crime, why would they want it to go away?

Posted by SteveS 2010-02-15 09:57|| 2010-02-15 09:57|| Front Page Top

#4 If a police department can make a good living from crime, why would they want it to go away? Especially when dropping tax revenues force cutbacks in funding of police departments, as is happening nationwide.

Posted by Anguper Hupomosing9418 2010-02-15 10:18|| 2010-02-15 10:18|| Front Page Top

#5 The Lincoln Park Pirates
by Steve Goodman

The streetlamps are on in Chicago tonight,
and lovers are gazin' at stars.
The stores are all closing and Daley is dozing,
and the Fat Man is counting the cars.
"And there's more cars than places to put 'em" he says,
"But I've got room for some more.
So round 'em up boys, 'cause I want some more toys.
Hit the lot by the grocery store!"

To me way, hey, tow them away!
The Lincoln Park Pirates are we.
From Wilmette to Gary, there's nothing so hairy,
and we always collect our fee.
To me way, hey, tow them away!
We plunder the streets of your town!
Be it Edsel or Chevy, there's no car too heavy,
and no one can make us shut down!

We break into cars when we gotta,
With pickax and hammer and saw,
And they say this garage has no license.
But little care I for the law.
All my drivers and friendly and courteous,
Their good manners you always will get,
'Cause they all are recent graduates
of the charm school in Joliet."

(Chorus)

And when all the cars are collected,
and all of their fenders are ruined,
Then I'll tow every boat in Belmont Harbor
to the Lincoln Park Lagoon.
And when I've collected the ransom,
and sunk all the ones that won't yield,
Then I'll tow all the planes that are blocking the runway at Midway, OHare and Meigs* Fields!

(Chorus)

"To me way, hey, tow them away!"
Now citizens, gather around,
I think it's enough.
Let's call his bluff.
Let's tow the bum out of town!

*Meigs Field was the airport at the lakefront, near the Planetarium, that King Daley II ordered bulldozed in the middle of the night to cut short further discussion of whether or not to keep it.

Posted by mom 2010-02-15 12:26|| 2010-02-15 12:26|| Front Page Top

#6 FWIW the song as performed by Steve Goodman

Posted by Don Vito Anginegum8261 2010-02-15 19:18|| 2010-02-15 19:18|| Front Page Top

#7 And I hear about Alabama being backwards! We are just now getting laws so peoples cars can be impounded if they have no liscence and insurance. Mostly pointed at illegal aliens (works)! Thats one thing I like about Alabama, we have practical laws, If the law isn't practical, the people ignore it and the law won't enforce it.

Posted by notascrename 2010-02-15 23:27|| 2010-02-15 23:27|| Front Page Top

00:04 trailing wife
23:56 trailing wife
23:48 phil_b
23:47 Lumpy Elmoluck5091
23:43 trailing wife
23:31 trailing wife
23:28 rwv
23:27 notascrename
23:26 Skunky Glins****
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23:23 rjschwarz
23:22 trailing wife
23:20 rwv
23:14 Spike Omitle4359
23:05 Skunky Glins****
22:51 SteveS
22:46 Thing From Snowy Mountain
22:40 Skunky Glins****
22:40 notascrename
22:28 Shymaiden
22:23 Thing From Snowy Mountain
22:17 AzCat
22:14 Frank G
21:59 Don Vito Gluter2312