North Carolina prepares to punish new witches

Well, I've always said that criminals run from the police because it makes perfect sense to do so. "Charged with" does not mean "convicted of."  Any extra penalties they might incur will invariably be plea bargained to nothing.  When is the last time you heard of anyone having to serve more prison time for running from the police?  Right.

So along comes the North Carolina legislature.  I know you can't believe this but, bad-daggit, they went and found themselves a witch.  That's right, a witch.  And we can steal from witches and nobody will say anything ... oh, it's so sweet.

The North Carolina state government will implement the “Run and You’re Done” law beginning December 1 2011. Governor Bev Perdue signed the bill into law on June 23. This new law allows North Carolina to seize the vehicle of anyone convicted of felony speeding to elude. 

The vehicle would then be auctioned off to the highest bidder, bringing revenue to the police agency responsible for the seizure. The entity responsible for selling the vehicle will keep seizure fees and sales fees. (Ha ha, of course, these "entities" won't be friends with the cops, judges, or politicians.)  Then the remainder of the profit will be distributed to the county government like a normal fine. LOL -- "the profit."

Under the new law, the seized vehicle can be sold even if the actual owner of the vehicle is unaware of its use for speeding (Uh, excuse me?  Does that sound "right" to you? Isn't this always the way with idiot politicians?). Police will need to place a legal advertisement in the newspaper on two occasions and paste up three handbills near the place of seizure before selling the car. (What?  No requirement for dancing an Irish jig at midnight, on a full moon, while swinging a dead cat over your head?)  In total, the process can be done in 24 days. A provision has been put in place forbidding the sale of highly modified performance vehicles. (Huh?) The modified vehicles are to be “turned over to such governmental agency or public official within the territorial jurisdiction of the court as the court shall see fit, to be used in the performance of official duties only.”  (Sure, that doesn't seem one bit incongruous or gratuitous.)  

Can't you just imagine the cops dancing with glee after they get to keep some guy's "highly modified performance vehicle."

While I agree that running from justice is a crime, I do NOT believe the government should just start stealing the person's money and/or property (unless it's going DIRECTLY to recompense a victim of their crime.)  And while my guess is existing laws hamper the police's ability to profit by fines, these new laws have opened the doors of profit wide open.

You know how local communities profit from "drunk drivers?" Well, this is the cop's "piece of the pie."  That's right, they liked it so much stealing the drug people's (also witches) cars that they decided to apply that same principle to other witches.

I'd much rather that a dangerous idiot be kept in jail for longer periods than let out early with the local police dept snagging a souped up Corvette.  What a bunch of bullshit.  And the best part is it's all done right in front of your face.

The thing is, I think criminals should pay and pay dearly for running from the police.  I mean, these asshats are running away from the guys I'm paying to keep the streets safe.  Ok?  You don't run from my guys, jackass. 

On the other hand, if you let the police/government profit from fining criminals, where you do think that road leads?  I'll give you an example.  First "being under the influence" was defined as having a blood alcohol level of .15 ... then it went to .12 ... then to .10 ... now it's at .08 ... and they fine with abandon, my friends ... everybody is in on it ... the lawyers, judges, cops, everyone ... it's a HUGE party.