Originally Posted by
DeafBlonde
I disagree that this applies to dog sniff-searches in general. It depends on what the dog is sniffing for. How much of the currency in circulation nowdays is tainted by explosive residue? Have there been any studies conducted on that subject?
I am also curious as to whether the "suspect" was arrested and charged with anything, or was his money simply stolen, oh sorry, ... er siezed by the po-po. It seems that if they didn't charge him with anything, the seizure of his money would be illegal, and could be challenged in court. If this is allowed, and it is true that up to 90% of all currency is tainted by illicit drug residue, cops would have permission to steal, oh sorry, ...er sieze anybody's cash at will.
Well, "asset forfeiture" is very real and very scary. It has ruined lives - lost houses and lost cars all because someone didn't have the money anymore to pay the bills or rent.
A YouTube video I saw recently of a Tennessee news station report showed how the police were simply taking the money (and not jailing the people) on the "money" side of the highway while ignoring the "drugs" side of the highway, allowing both drugs and criminals to flow freely.
We already know the TSA is interested in large sums of cash, even though they shouldn't be and it is not their WEI directive.
As for the topic at hand, my motto - for all security in general -
Puffers all the way! ^