Asset Forfeiture Laws

[Bamspeedy]

Even for minor infractions such as speeding or open seatbelt, etc?
I guess one lives and learns.
However, that seems ... incredibly inefficient, although I guess it lowers required training of cops.

The dollar amount of the fine isn't determined by the cop. However, the cop can decide to write a ticket that has a fine attached to it, or to write a warning which has no fine attached to it. One possible factor he could use in deciding to give a fine or a warning is indeed prior history.

 

[warpus]

Yeah, when you're in the U.S., don't carry a lot of cash on you. It's one of those things you should know when heading there. Use your credit card, major urban centres in the country have recently finally adapted chip technology, so you no longer have to swipe and worry about that unsophisticated level of security biting you in the butt later.

This is the sort of thing travellers should research before packing their bags. If you really need to bring a decent amount of cash through American territory, cops have the power to take that away from you, and never give it back, even if you did nothing wrong. So don't do it.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

The chip and pin system isn't actually that much more secure unless the card readers require you to use a pin (at least that's my understanding). Most readers in the US do not require the pin. I've never been asked to use one ever.

 

[Yeekim]

I've never been asked to use one ever.

Wth? That tech is like, 15 years old!
Banks here stopped even issuing cards without chips like 9-10 years ago!

 

[rah]

I haven't been asked for a pin yet while using my cards with chips.
Chip readers have really only been widespread here for the last year or so.
Most merchants didn't want to upgrade and only did once the Credit Card Companies told them they would now be responsible for ineligible charges. That got them moving.

 

[Bamspeedy]

It's similar here for chip readers (WI/MN border) as for becoming widespread in the last year or two. I've worn out my chip once and getting close to wearing it out again. Wal-mart has it, the regional gas station chain does not. Anywhere else it's about 50/50 if they have it or they have a note telling you they don't have a chip reader and to scan it the old way. When I've used the chip reader more than once at the same location then it becomes random whether or not you'll need your PIN.

 

[warpus]

The chip and pin system isn't actually that much more secure unless the card readers require you to use a pin (at least that's my understanding). Most readers in the US do not require the pin. I've never been asked to use one ever.

At the time of the event I was used to having always to enter my PIN when using the cc chip. I am pretty sure I always have to do this.

Since then tapping has taken off, so you just tap your card and don't have to enter a thing. I used to do this for convenience's sake, but for a couple weeks now my tapping just doesn't work anywhere. So I think my card is ready to be replaced.. but either way, I always enter my card now, into the slot that reads the chip, and it always prompts me for a PIN. So it might be mandatory here

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Wth? That tech is like, 15 years old!
Banks here stopped even issuing cards without chips like 9-10 years ago!

I've never been asked to use a pin. I use the chip always.

 

[Yeekim]

Never used the chip without the pin... like warpus said. I had even forgotten that was an option when I posted.

 

[PhroX]

When you have to put the card into the reader, you always have to use the PIN here, but these days pretty much everywhere supports contactless payment so you don't even need to do that anymore. The only time I seem to need to type my PIN in is at a cash machine, and I've even seen some of those that support contactless for small withdrawls.

 

[rah]

I sure hope i don't get prompted since i have no idea what it is since I've never had to use it.

 

[warpus]

It was just so weird to be in a world class city, and nobody knows what a chip is, meanwhile back home it's been in use for 10+ years, and it was already in use in some developing countries I've visited. Also weird to not make people type in their PIN

But yeah anyway, either way, don't carry any amount of cash on you in the U.S. that will change your life (or your month or year) if the cops take it. Use plastic. If you have cash on you, and it's a decent amount, and the cops happen to catch you breaking an unrelated law, they might very well "assume" it's drug money and take it all. And from what I've read in most cases it's virtually impossible to get it back

 

[rah]

If you're not a criminal and they picked you up for an unrelated offense, you'll get it back, but you'll have to jump through a few hoops.

 

[warpus]

If you're not a criminal and they picked you up for an unrelated offense, you'll get it back, but you'll have to jump through a few hoops.

From what I've read in /r/legaladvice, good luck with that

 

[rah]

Unfortunately all I have is personal experience. A buddy of mine had some money confiscated and he got it back in about 2 months. But as I said, he jumped through some hoops. Not proof by any imagination but at least one example that doesn't match what's written on the internet.

 

[Commodore]

The chip and pin system isn't actually that much more secure unless the card readers require you to use a pin (at least that's my understanding). Most readers in the US do not require the pin. I've never been asked to use one ever.

That hasn't been my experience. The reader has always asked me for my PIN ever since I got my chipped debit card.

 

[Silurian]

Here in the UK you put in your card and type your pin for amounts over £30.
Up to £30 you just wave your card over the reader; except it may ask for your pin if you have used it many times and randomly.
Many people also have their bank details on their phone so just wave the phone over the card reader for amounts under £30.

 

[rah]

I'm going to have to look up or ask for a new pin so I don't get ambushed by a card reader in the future.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

That hasn't been my experience. The reader has always asked me for my PIN ever since I got my chipped debit card.

My experience suggests that the key word there is "debit." I can use the same card at the same store, and when "type of card" comes up if I choose "debit" it asks for a PIN, if I choose "credit" it asks for my zip code.

 

[rah]

I get asked for the zip at the gas station, but there I've made the selection that it was a credit card, in the store I never get to choose that option. I just stick it in. (hmm, that didn't sound right)