A deeply divided Minnesota Supreme Court today issued a ruling in Laase v. 2007 Chevy Tahoe which allows the government to take away private property from an innocent husband or wife in DWI related cases. The decision overturns the trial and appellate courts who found that a spouse who was a named co-owner on the title of a vehicle could assert the “innocent owner defense” and thus force the government to return property seized after a DWI arrest. This ruling gives the government the green light to seize property from those who are entirely innocent of any wrongdoing. In effect, the Court is allowing police departments and prosecutors throughout the State of Minnesota to punish people for the sole offense of marrying the wrong person. Lets hope the legislature finally sees the huge possibilities for abuse that the forfeiture laws create and finally purges “policing for profit” from this state.

Related posts:

1. Minnesota DWI Laws: Guilty Until Proven Innocent