Some will recognize the headline, which is a line spoken by one of the demented rednecks in the film adaptation of the novel, Deliverance. The infamous scene happened in the backwoods. But that was fiction – as opposed to what routinely happens by the side of the road.
What legally happens by the side of the road.
You get “pulled over” for something – it can be for nothing you’ve done that’s illegal, since you are legally required to pull over just because a cop rolls up behind you and turns his wig-wag lights and siren on. You are not legally permitted to refuse to pull over under any circumstances. Which means that you can be forced to pull over for any or no reason – other than the cop has decided to pull you over. He has that arbitrary power over you – and if you don’t obey, it’ll be worse for you than if you’d just pulled over.
Though not necessarily.
In addition to being legally empowered to just pull you over, a cop can also just take your money – or your property – without even issuing you a ticket. This is styled civil asset forfeiture and it’s all perfectly legal. All the cop has to do is say your money (no particular amount) or your property are the proceeds of “illegal activity.”
How’s that for an interesting inversion?
It is then your burden to prove that the money/property that was taken from you was legally yours, in the sense of not having being acquired via “illegal activity.” And the really great part about is it’s up to the local judge/prosecutor’s office to decide whether your case is compelling. It is not their burden to prove their case – which isn’t even that, since no charges need to be filed and no conviction has to be obtained in order for them to just take – and keep – your property.
Including your motorcycle.
Anson Fenton, the now-former police chief of Wayne City, IL, did just that (and probably more). But that’s not why he was charged – and just recently convicted – of having committed several criminal acts and is awaiting sentencing this July.
He was charged – and convicted – for failing to “safeguard property that Wayne City received from asset forfeiture proceedings.”
Italics added.
Wayne City did not “receive” the property. It seized it. And that part is perfectly legal. So where did former chief Fenton go wrong? Well, it turns out he sold the property that Wayne City “received” – and pocketed the money himself.
Fenton sold a 2017 Harley Street Glide Special and a 2000 Fat Boy and traded a 2022 Suzuki for a ’91 Mustang – as if these bikes were his property. As opposed to the seized property of Wayne City, which considered this theft – an irony lost on the thieves involved.
“The U.S. Attorney’s Office strongly supports our police,” reads a statement issued by U.S. U.S. Attorney Steven D. Weinhoeft following Fenton’s guilty plea. “But we must take decisive action when things like this happen. By taking unauthorized possession of forfeited property for his personal benefit, the defendant used his position of trust as police chief to deceive the community he was sworn to protect.”
Lots of italics added
Where to begin? He – his office – “strongly supports” the (not “our”) police? Why is is necessary to preface a statement about a convicted criminal with this elliptical encomium? Would a U.S. Attorney ever preface a statement regarding any other – i.e., non-official – criminal or criminal organization this way?
“Unauthorized possession” – of property legally stolen from people often denied even the forms of due process that the law once required before any person could be lawfully deprived of their property?
Fenton’s only crime – in the eyes of the law – was that he disposed of the property of others for his own directly personal gain. That he dispensed with the bureaucratic pretense of the city selling off the seized property – a process designed to sanitize theft by making it seem like it’s something else.
It works in the same way that the theft conducted by the IRS isn’t generally done by an armed thug showing up at your home with a gun and demanding money that the thug then pockets. Instead, you are required to fill out forms – and send a check in the mail. All very official. This process is designed to make the check-writer feel he’s not the victim of armed robbery – in order to make him feel better about it.
But it chiefly meant to drape the IRS in the mantle of ersatz legitimacy. It is just a “service,” you know.
But we all know who is being served.
“Position of trust”? No, not quite. The police are in a position of authority – which we are required to submit to, by law. This is the antithesis of trust, which is given voluntarily and can be withdrawn when abused without legal repercussions. It is absurd – it is degrading – to speak of the praetorian class, the enforcers of the law, as being people who hold a “position of trust.” No self-respecting slave would refer to the overseer who compels him to obey Massa as holding a “position of trust.”
“Sworn to protect”? The most risible of all the assertions made by the unctuous U.S. Attorney. If it were not so, these praetorians would be protecting people from legalized predation – this despicable practice of just taking people’s money and possessions on the pretense of a vague assertion never substantiated by evidence sufficient to convince a jury that a crime had indeed been committed.
“No one is above the law, especially those charged with upholding the law, and the Illinois State Police will continue to work with our partners in law enforcement at all levels to protect the public’s trust,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly.
Oy meet vey.
And they ask me why I drink.
. . .
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I genuinely wonder how they managed this !!
https://x.com/matthardy_br/status/1910005422632632758?s=46
Hi Nasir!
I keep wondering, too…
Smell all that freedom
For some reason, when I read your article, Eric, the first state that came to mind was New Mexico. Whenever I hear a horror story of asset forfeiture, that state surfaces. I have never been to that state, nor do I know anyone who lives there, so I cannot verify (or refute) such a statement. Either way, if TPTB are willing to do this now, when things are still relatively calm, I can only imagine how Stalin-esque they will get when STHF.
Just about an hour ago, Sean Hannity radio show, he said they uncovered massive check fraud, he said $40 BILLION A WEEK was being transferred to the Afghanistan central bank. That means the USA tax slaves were bankrolling Afghanistan, and add to that Israel (a welfare/warfare state we pay for everything – costing us trillions), and Ukraine where currently the USA funds all government checks and pensions.
Add to that all the CIA USAID funds that DOGE uncovered. I ask all of you, why in the hell should we pay income tax when they are wasting that amount of monies? We are being massively abused by this central bank scam they are running. How about we end all Congressional salaries until the balance the damn budget and prosecute all those involved?
I like what some jurisdictions in Switzerland do, no public servant gets paid until after they serve and after the voters decide if they should get paid.
X- DOGE has uncovered $5 TRILLION dollars in UNTRACEABLE payments. There’s no records of where it went. Just a gigantic whole in the budget that they were covering up. A $5 TRILLION dollar blank check.
https://x.com/TheIntelSCIF/status/1909941022450209156?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1909941022450209156%7Ctwgr%5E7688e87a557f14b04a8c94f384c68b4343d22d77%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=http%253A%252F%252F
I wish someone would do an undercover video ala Jon Stossel, carrying around $10,000 in his car, with hidden camera. See how long it takes for an officer to pull him over for some minor infraction so as to search the car.
I swear they have some kind of scanning tech that alerts them when there is a large amount of money in the car.
“It is absurd – it is degrading”
That is THE point. Not only do they think of themselves as your better, they want you to KNOW IT when they abuse you. They want to rub your nose in it. Whatchu gonna do bout it, says the bully.
Until these bastards are swinging from lamp posts in the town square, nothing will change, but for the worse.
Depending on state worshipping, DEI judges and prosecutors to correct this problem is absurd.
‘this elliptical encomium’ — eric
Alluring assonance this is, in the hands of a master essayist.
Last night a dinner companion spoke of having her work dismissed as a ‘vanity project.’
‘Hell, I need my own vanity project,’ I retorted.
And had I read Eric’s essay beforehand, I would have added, ‘So I can receive elliptical encomia from unctuous praetorians.’
Yes, Jim. EP Autos is potent and yet fragrant fertilizer for one’s lexicon.
That’s messed up. I’ve seen police who would never do asset forfeiture because they recognize it for what it is, and others who laugh about doing it. The whole evidence room can be an issue over time with things laying around for years. The temptation is there I’m sure. Some things get thrown out like old backpacks and such, but how many times has someone tried to get it back? Did they give up? Did they fill out the form wrong? I’ve seen drugs and crack pipes ‘misplaced’ too.
You know, to more effectively understand a few things, I read a little about the plight of El Salvador and their response to being overrun by the gangs Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18.
See, those gangs had divided certain cities into districts, and they demanded those who would enter and exit pay extortion money. Business were also victims of extortion, and would have to pay these goons to leave them alone.
Those who did not pay were subject to all manner or horrors, including beatings, murders, rape, etc. They’d kill you and burn down your business.
But what were these gangs? Why, ad hoc governments, of course.
Any government is just a powerful gang that demands similar “tributes” under duress. They demand you have permission to cross certain “borders” and you must pay for that permission. They demand that you have a “business license” and probably many other “licenses” to run a business. If you do not pay, they shut down your business. Should you endeavor to persist, they will kidnap you and put you in a cage. Resist, and you will be beaten and may be killed.
Same with being “pulled over”. Pay your extortion money or they may steal your vehicle and put your in a cage. Refuse to “pull over” and you will be pursued until you are beaten and shackled, or you die.
So a government is just a “civilized” gang. But in El Salvador, in order to reign in the uncivilized ad hoc governments MS-13 and Barrio 18, the nominal government became a little less civilized. It suspended civil rights and entered a period of “emergency”. The “State of Exception”. This “State of Exception” has been renewed many times. Right now, it’s popular there. It’s becoming popular here, because people don’t see what’s coming.
But they will.
YouTube channel- James Freeman: video “Is This An Organized Crime Syndicate?”
Somewhat off topic, and may require anti-vomit meds before reading, but here is an example of propaganda disgusting enough to make Eddie Bernays proud:
https://www.pressenterprise.com/2025/04/07/california-is-stuck-in-neutral-on-autonomous-trucking/
Where to start with this nonsense?
1. The truck is described (in the picture) as “fuel cell ELECTRIC” rather than “hydrogen fueled.” Don’t want to scare people with “hydrogen.” *Do* want to use the virtuous word “electric” instead.
2. Robotaxis (a.k.a. Johnny Cabs) are ” safer, greener, and more accessible.”
More “accessible” than what, exactly? What does “accessible” mean, anyway?
3. Roads are “deadly.” Should I be terrified to drive anywhere?
4. “California was wise.” Governments have “wisdom?” Who knew that bureaucratic entities are sentient, and are our all wise father protectors? Sort of like “God,” eh?
5. Teamsters are not “truckers,” but “delivery drivers.”
7. “autonomous trucks would increase the number of U.S. jobs by as many as 35,000. ” Really? Getting human drivers out of the cab increases jobs for drivers exactly how? War is peace, comrade.
8. “AV technology is designed to eliminate human error” Substituting machine error in its place. I’ll take my chances with a human, comrade. Terminators only do one thing.
9. “35 percent of transportation-generated nitrous oxide” The next “bogeyman gas,” apparently. Nitrous oxide is a.k.a. “laughing gas,” so let’s laugh while we can. Laughing may soon be declared illegal, you know. “Saving the environment” is no laughing matter, comrades.
10.”AVs can be programmed to take the most efficient routes.” Whereas humans are incapable of reading maps. “Dangerous” human drivers ae also capable of taking “shortcuts” based on personal experience, and disobeying the “wisdom” of pre-programmed software “assistants.” Soft-in-the-head-ware obviously knows best, comrades.
11.”embracing AV trucks” or., “How I learned to stop worrying, and LOVE …”
12. “reclaim its leadership, prioritize facts over fear, and move forward with AV trucking to build a more resilient future.” What a hoot!
[shaking head in disbelief]
Where did they get this guy?
Here:
https://www.li.me
Not being able to carry large amounts of cash, is just part of the war against (untraceable) paper money. They want to know if you paid someone for something under the table… You may not pay some taxes or something……..
>They want to know if you paid someone for something under the table…
Worse than that.
They want to keep detailed records of *every* transaction you have ever made.
Forever.
The overwhelming majority of cops are not good cops. They are psychopaths that are drunk with autority. Too many citizens have bought into the “protect and serve” along with the “thin blue line” hero crap.
When you see the flashing lights behind you and the realization hits, that yes, this is your turn…your life, as you know it is over.
You are no longer in control.
Your life is now at the mercy of the whims of whomever steps out of the official vehicle behind you.
They can get away with anything short of outright murder, and they know it.
And they know you know it, too.
Even murder can be “gotten away with” sometimes.
So..next time you are pulled over…be prepared to grovel. Submit or die. That is your only choice.
“ Even murder can be “gotten away with “
Oh they sure can. This bitch was twice the legal limit via blood draw well after she ran over the motorcycle killing the rider. She refused field sobriety tests thus the blood draw “later”. WA State Patrol’s finest!
No charges filed. Of course. Yet = never for this one.
https://www.applevalleynewsnow.com/news/where-was-off-duty-wsp-trooper-sarah-clasen-before-the-fatal-crash-new-details-uncovered/article_1d5e27b2-94a1-4a2d-a297-fdc1a7e73740.html
As usual, Hollywood pretends that only redneck white men from the south are criminals.
(Although, I must admit that there are some parasites in D.C. that can be so described.)
The most dangerous criminals wear suits, and walk free among us.
Why do police never go after the Cartels? Professional courtesy.
This theft by GovCo employees has been going on for a very long time yet my understanding of the Constitution tells me this should not be so and yet it still happens everyday.
Civil asset “forfeiture” is legalized theft.
In many states, your property is given lesser rights in court than a person, making it easier for the state to steal your stuff if you haven’t committed any crime except being caught by an armed government worker with something they’d like to pilfer, like cash or a bike.
You should be able to carry $10,000 in cash without being worried whether you’re going to be mugged by a member of our criminal class or our self-branded “law enforcers” who are just minions of the state.
That’s why this fetishization of law enforcement, “back the blue” makes me a little sick every time I see a flag on a truck or a sticker.
When I was your age they would say we can become cops or criminals. Today, what I’m saying to you is this: when you’re facing a loaded gun, what’s the difference?
Frank Costello (played by Jack Nicholson)
The Departed
“This is styled civil asset forfeiture and it’s all perfectly legal”
The local legislators created these laws. The legislators are elected by the citizens. The citizens are the ones who want these laws. The lawmakers hire police to enforce the laws that they created. Do we even know what people think these days. Hint; there are some strange people out there and they could be your neighbors. If this happens in your area then itz time to leave, you won’t be able to fight them.
I recall in the news about 10 years ago or so where police in Iowa were stopping cars and doing searches. If they found a large amount of money without documentation they would arrest you.
“In the United States, civil forfeiture (also called civil asset forfeiture or civil judicial forfeiture) is a process in which law enforcement officers take assets from people who are suspected of involvement with crime or illegal activity without necessarily charging the owners with wrongdoing”
“To get back the seized property, owners must prove it was not involved in criminal activity. Sometimes it can mean a threat to seize property as well as the act of seizure itself”
Welcome to America “where our soldiers are overseas protecting our freedoms at home” Ha, ha, ha
I guess you are not enough of a race realist to even understand the meme at the top of the page.
Blacks are infamous for stealing bikes. The black motorcycle cop wants the bike rider to “pull over” not because he is used to stealing property because he is a cop, but because he is used to stealing bicycles because that is just what blacks to.
Just as Jews rarely pay retail, so do Blacks rarely pay for their own bikes.
Hi Brosi,
Every single law enforcer – race regardless – is a thief. Because every single one of them uses “the law” to take money from people under the pretext that they violated some law or other, none of that having anything to do with their having caused anyone else harm. Why would I care more – or less – whether I am mulcted by a white cop or a black cop?
Who do you perceive to be your enemy?
Your answer to that question informs what you see when you look at it, and that says far more about you than it does about the author.