WND 4/9/2022
Small Alabama department pulled in $610,000 in fines, bought mine-resistant vehicle to drive around townA federal lawsuit has been filed over the actions by the police department in a small Alabama town, where officers pulled in more than $610,000 in fines in one year, enough that officers were able to supplement their salaries, lease a mine-resistant vehicle to drive around town and other military equipment.
The class action case is being brought by the Institute for Justice on behalf of victims of the police operations in Brookside, Alabama.
The legal team outlined one of the incidents that triggered the legal response: "Brittany Coleman is one of thousands of victims of Brookside’s policing for profit scheme. She was pulled over by a Brookside officer for allegedly following her boyfriend’s car too closely as they drove together to get breakfast on her birthday. Three officers forced Brittany to stand handcuffed in the hot Alabama sun for more than 30 minutes as they searched her car. They issued her citations for tailgating and marijuana possession, even though they found no marijuana, and needlessly towed her car. The marijuana charge was dismissed. Even so, Brittany was forced to pay nearly $1,000 for towing fees and court costs."
The Institute's report on the case explained the Brookside police department boosted its revenue by 640% in fees, fines and forfeitures from 2018 to 2020.
"This windfall did not happen by accident but is the result of a systematic effort by Brookside’s police department to prioritize ticket collection over the administration of justice. This kind of improper financial incentive not only betrays the duty to protect and serve; it violates the U.S. Constitution," the Institute reported.
There are two claims in the case: "First, Brookside’s policy, practice and custom of relentlessly towing vehicles for bogus reasons to generate cash for the town violates the Fourteenth Amendment. Second, Brookside’s use of trumped-up criminal citations to maximize fines and fees for its financial benefit similarly violates the Fourteenth Amendment. Both claims maintain that Brookside uses its law-enforcement and municipal-court systems to generate revenue for those in charge."
More:
https://www.wnd.com/2022/04/cops-towing-profit-operations-draw-federal-lawsuit/
