You really can't blame the cops for this. They get their orders from higher up the food chain, from people who are struggling with budgets every day. It's the lawmakers who are encouraging (or at least allowing) this kind of ridiculous behavior. If seized money went to drug rehab centers or something like that, the shakedowns would stop. And of course, lawmakers would have to fund the cops from normal taxes, which they would prefer to spend on their pet projects.

Ultimately, it's the people of the state who must demand changes to the laws, and that's unlikely because the cops target out-of-state plates. Perhaps if this starts to impact legit tourism or something, it might get a referendum. But since there are few legit reasons for carrying large quantities of cash, it's unlikely to change.

BTW, don't carry around large amounts of cash. That's stupid.

What the HELL is wrong with the reporter narrating the footage? He sounds like he's trying to rap to a beat that only he can hear. Alternatively, like he is trying to keep a ping-pong ball afloat while speaking. Dude, not all consonants have to be CRAZY articulated.

If they just traffic one side of the highway and only target out of state vehicles......

How's a smart drug smuggler going to handle that? He's going to use an in-state tagged vehicle until he gets through the state. Or buy something he can resell in another state for clean cash.

As for carrying large sums of money, it's common knowledge in my area that farmers do a significant amount of dealings in cash. They'll buy big ticket items or equipment, like 100 grand items entirely or divide it up between a big lump of cash and the rest on credit. They cross state lines to go to auctions, etc and carry sizable cash on them the day of. Admittedly other people do cash dealings, but farmers are guys who consistently do cash deals. Sometimes they even buy new stuff from the manufacturers for big discounts because they pay entirely in cash.

Also other reasons for cash: Semi drivers doing pickups on goods will sometimes deal in cash. This is why you see a lot of them parked on the side of the highway instead of at rest stops when they sleep for the day, because people will bust into their cab and rob em due to there being a good chance of them carrying cash. Let alone emptying their trucks while they sleep. Got an uncle who used to do interstate driving, he said when he woke up in the morning after sleeping at a truck stop...the experienced guys would never get out of the truck to use the restroom or whatever. They'd start their truck and drive a good distance down the highway then get out and inspect their truck for vandalism, tampering, or other issues. Just so they don't get cracked in the head while they are bent over checking tires.

So, basically these cops are straight up robbing people who have entirely non-drug related reasons to carry a lot of cash on them. It'll just end up that people will start routing around Tennessee if they are out of state and going to another state to avoid the hassle. Which means they won't get their fuel taxes (basically trucks are required to buy as much fuel as they use in each state and they check them periodically for receipts and proof), won't get the business of people stopping in the state, and might end up with people entirely avoiding delivering to TN at all...only dropping off near it and letting a local guy in TN come out of state to pick it up and bring it in. Which is another thing...in CA and other Southwestern states, if they need to ship something into Canada they use to take it down into Mexico and drop it off. Then let the Mexican trucks hook up to the load and take it back through the US and up into Canada...it ended up being cheaper and faster. Don't know if they've revised laws and what not to stop that, but a lot of truckers were pissed when their 100-200+ mile round trip ended up being a half day into mexico and back.

Welcome to the third world.

Comment hidden because you are ignoring dag.(show it anyway)

This is awful. *promote

Promoting this video back to the front page; last published Friday, May 20th, 2011 1:55pm PDT - promote requested by dag.

>> ^MaxWilder:

You really can't blame the cops for this. They get their orders from higher up the food chain, from people who are struggling with budgets every day. It's the lawmakers who are encouraging (or at least allowing) this kind of ridiculous behavior. If seized money went to drug rehab centers or something like that, the shakedowns would stop. And of course, lawmakers would have to fund the cops from normal taxes, which they would prefer to spend on their pet projects.
Ultimately, it's the people of the state who must demand changes to the laws, and that's unlikely because the cops target out-of-state plates. Perhaps if this starts to impact legit tourism or something, it might get a referendum. But since there are few legit reasons for carrying large quantities of cash, it's unlikely to change.
BTW, don't carry around large amounts of cash. That's stupid.


I agree with you on everything except the "can't blame the cops". "Just following orders" is no excuse for committing an injustice...

>> ^Stormsinger:

>> ^MaxWilder:
You really can't blame the cops for this. They get their orders from higher up the food chain, from people who are struggling with budgets every day. It's the lawmakers who are encouraging (or at least allowing) this kind of ridiculous behavior. If seized money went to drug rehab centers or something like that, the shakedowns would stop. And of course, lawmakers would have to fund the cops from normal taxes, which they would prefer to spend on their pet projects.
Ultimately, it's the people of the state who must demand changes to the laws, and that's unlikely because the cops target out-of-state plates. Perhaps if this starts to impact legit tourism or something, it might get a referendum. But since there are few legit reasons for carrying large quantities of cash, it's unlikely to change.
BTW, don't carry around large amounts of cash. That's stupid.

I agree with you on everything except the "can't blame the cops". "Just following orders" is no excuse for committing an injustice...


While I agree that "just following orders" is not a strong defense, it's not like they are committing war crimes. For the most part, it really is drug money they are seizing. Are they supposed to throw away their careers in order to try to change something that should be changed by the lawmakers and citizens who elect those lawmakers?

>> ^MaxWilder:

>> ^Stormsinger:
>> ^MaxWilder:
You really can't blame the cops for this. They get their orders from higher up the food chain, from people who are struggling with budgets every day. It's the lawmakers who are encouraging (or at least allowing) this kind of ridiculous behavior. If seized money went to drug rehab centers or something like that, the shakedowns would stop. And of course, lawmakers would have to fund the cops from normal taxes, which they would prefer to spend on their pet projects.
Ultimately, it's the people of the state who must demand changes to the laws, and that's unlikely because the cops target out-of-state plates. Perhaps if this starts to impact legit tourism or something, it might get a referendum. But since there are few legit reasons for carrying large quantities of cash, it's unlikely to change.
BTW, don't carry around large amounts of cash. That's stupid.

I agree with you on everything except the "can't blame the cops". "Just following orders" is no excuse for committing an injustice...

While I agree that "just following orders" is not a strong defense, it's not like they are committing war crimes. For the most part, it really is drug money they are seizing. Are they supposed to throw away their careers in order to try to change something that should be changed by the lawmakers and citizens who elect those lawmakers?


Throwing away? You really think they'd lose their entire career by making such policies known to the public, or talking to the press about it? I don't.

And even if they did...I chose not to work for employers who didn't meet at least the minimum of my ethical standards, and I have no reservations in believing others should do the same. If everyone did, we'd probably not be in the shithouse we find ourselves in these days.

>> ^Stormsinger:

>> ^MaxWilder:
>> ^Stormsinger:
>> ^MaxWilder:
You really can't blame the cops for this. They get their orders from higher up the food chain, from people who are struggling with budgets every day. It's the lawmakers who are encouraging (or at least allowing) this kind of ridiculous behavior. If seized money went to drug rehab centers or something like that, the shakedowns would stop. And of course, lawmakers would have to fund the cops from normal taxes, which they would prefer to spend on their pet projects.
Ultimately, it's the people of the state who must demand changes to the laws, and that's unlikely because the cops target out-of-state plates. Perhaps if this starts to impact legit tourism or something, it might get a referendum. But since there are few legit reasons for carrying large quantities of cash, it's unlikely to change.
BTW, don't carry around large amounts of cash. That's stupid.

I agree with you on everything except the "can't blame the cops". "Just following orders" is no excuse for committing an injustice...

While I agree that "just following orders" is not a strong defense, it's not like they are committing war crimes. For the most part, it really is drug money they are seizing. Are they supposed to throw away their careers in order to try to change something that should be changed by the lawmakers and citizens who elect those lawmakers?

Throwing away? You really think they'd lose their entire career by making such policies known to the public, or talking to the press about it? I don't.
And even if they did...I chose not to work for employers who didn't meet at least the minimum of my ethical standards, and I have no reservations in believing others should do the same. If everyone did, we'd probably not be in the shithouse we find ourselves in these days.


Who said anything about keeping silent? This whole news report may have been inspired by a cop who wasn't happy with the policy.

But if they don't carry out the policy, they will get fired. They guy in the video said so.

I applaud your ethical standards. I certainly hope I would do the same. But these days it isn't so easy to simply change jobs. It would probably involve moving to another area, maybe even another state. Not to mention a big cut in pay as you throw away any seniority. And if all the ethical people leave the force, then they will simply be replaced and replaced until the only people left are unethical. Doesn't sound like an improvement.

Why are you resisting laying the blame where it belongs?

>> ^MaxWilder:

>> ^Stormsinger:
>> ^MaxWilder:
>> ^Stormsinger:
>> ^MaxWilder:
You really can't blame the cops for this. They get their orders from higher up the food chain, from people who are struggling with budgets every day. It's the lawmakers who are encouraging (or at least allowing) this kind of ridiculous behavior. If seized money went to drug rehab centers or something like that, the shakedowns would stop. And of course, lawmakers would have to fund the cops from normal taxes, which they would prefer to spend on their pet projects.
Ultimately, it's the people of the state who must demand changes to the laws, and that's unlikely because the cops target out-of-state plates. Perhaps if this starts to impact legit tourism or something, it might get a referendum. But since there are few legit reasons for carrying large quantities of cash, it's unlikely to change.
BTW, don't carry around large amounts of cash. That's stupid.

I agree with you on everything except the "can't blame the cops". "Just following orders" is no excuse for committing an injustice...

While I agree that "just following orders" is not a strong defense, it's not like they are committing war crimes. For the most part, it really is drug money they are seizing. Are they supposed to throw away their careers in order to try to change something that should be changed by the lawmakers and citizens who elect those lawmakers?

Throwing away? You really think they'd lose their entire career by making such policies known to the public, or talking to the press about it? I don't.
And even if they did...I chose not to work for employers who didn't meet at least the minimum of my ethical standards, and I have no reservations in believing others should do the same. If everyone did, we'd probably not be in the shithouse we find ourselves in these days.

Who said anything about keeping silent? This whole news report may have been inspired by a cop who wasn't happy with the policy.
But if they don't carry out the policy, they will get fired. They guy in the video said so.
I applaud your ethical standards. I certainly hope I would do the same. But these days it isn't so easy to simply change jobs. It would probably involve moving to another area, maybe even another state. Not to mention a big cut in pay as you throw away any seniority. And if all the ethical people leave the force, then they will simply be replaced and replaced until the only people left are unethical. Doesn't sound like an improvement.
Why are you resisting laying the blame where it belongs?


Say what? I'm not the one saying "you can't blame X..." I'm saying there is plenty of blame for everyone involved: legislators, police chiefs, AND cops doing the dirty work. Remember, this whole discussion is about the only part of your original statement I disagreed with...the rest I'm completely on your side (so discussing those parts is rather dull).

And yes, ethics -do- have a price. In my own case, I'm quite sure it prolonged my period of unemployment (causing me to have to empty my retirement funds and put retirement into the "fantasy" category), as well as moving in order to secure another job. But if everyone simply says "I had no choice", nothing ever gets better either.

It's way past time for people to start doing what they're asking other people to do. You want ethical behavior and laws from your legislators, I'd think you'd best be behaving ethically yourselves (note, that's a general "you", not you in particular Max). That's part of my problem with the Republican party...they all seem to talk the talk, but it doesn't appear that more than a tiny fraction actually walk the walk.

I totally agree Stormsinger. It would be great if the world was perfect. I certainly applaud your ethical stance, but it is simply unrealistic to expect that from everybody as a way to solve our problems. It is up to those of us with ethics to force changes in the laws that will encourage ethical behavior in others.

But after all is said and done, you are right. I should have said "You really can't blame only the cops for this." There is a whole chain of people working together to make this happen, and anywhere along the chain somebody could risk their career in order to do the right thing.

OR the general public could get off their lazy asses and fix the laws. I find it horrible to ask people to risk their careers in this economy when it is the responsibility of the people to push for changes in the law. Hopefully news stories like this one will help that happen.

>> ^MaxWilder:

You really can't blame the cops for this. They get their orders from higher up the food chain, from people who are struggling with budgets every day. It's the lawmakers who are encouraging (or at least allowing) this kind of ridiculous behavior. If seized money went to drug rehab centers or something like that, the shakedowns would stop. And of course, lawmakers would have to fund the cops from normal taxes, which they would prefer to spend on their pet projects.
Ultimately, it's the people of the state who must demand changes to the laws, and that's unlikely because the cops target out-of-state plates. Perhaps if this starts to impact legit tourism or something, it might get a referendum. But since there are few legit reasons for carrying large quantities of cash, it's unlikely to change.
BTW, don't carry around large amounts of cash. That's stupid.


Completely agreed

OK... so never spend 1$ on gas or anything else in that state. Done deal. Enjoy robbing innocents, also enjoy the loss of tourist dollars of everyone else. Maybe you are right that stealing is more money than honest income. Sleep well.