Source: Reason
by Dan Alban & Elyse Smith Pohl
“Online shoppers can bid on a sleek black Camaro, a commercial fishing boat, silver coins, and other items at a first-of-its-kind government auction today. However, the news release announcing the event from Hawaii’s Department of the Attorney General does not tell the full story. The state is vague about where it got these items to be auctioned. Public records show the government took nine of the 15 vehicles available from people who were never convicted. Overall, only seven of the 26 people named in these cases were convicted of any crimes. Much or perhaps all of this property comes from civil forfeiture—a moneymaking scheme that allows the government to take and permanently keep cash, cars, and other valuables that are suspected to be connected with criminal activity without having to prove wrongdoing in criminal court.” (02/18/25)
https://reason.com/2025/02/18/hawaii-can-auction-off-your-car-without-ever-convicting-you/