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Friend of mine got a pretty hefty fine this year at Bonnaroo...to the tune of $3300, due to a certain tax in TN. If anyone has had any experience with these types of issues i would really appreciate any information (good or bad). I don't know how much i can go into the details since it is "drukq" related.
Does your friend have any priors? If not, they might be able to get the fine waived in exchange for community service, probation, stuff like that. Does your friend have an attorney? They might want one.
thanks for the reply...he does have a DUI on his record. he is in the process of getting an attorney. wouldn't the community service etc. would have to be in TN and he lives in FL.
Some states have what they call an "interstate compact", which would allow him to transfer his penalty to his home state because sometimes the severity of the "crime" doesn't warrant the person having to travel outside their home state. If this would work, he needs to KEEP ALL HIS PAPERWORK. You can imagine how things get lost in one state, let alone if you have to send it from Florida to Tennessee.
The ways they come up with making money are ridiculous. We have a $125 law enforcment fee for things like drukqs, that you owe even if your fine is dropped. Our court costs just went up to $50, so you owe the state 50 even if your ticket is dismissed.
Post by strumntheguitar on Jul 31, 2007 14:19:26 GMT -5
Yeah, a friend of mine got a drunk in public in Virginia last year but she lives in Illinois and the courts allowed her to do all her work in Illinois. Best of luck to your friend...
I think you are refering to the tax on illegal drugs. FYI, if you sell any illegal drugs in TN you must pay a tax and get a tax stamp to place on them (like the one on liquor bottles.) It's a silly law just passed to add fines to people caught because you is gonna go to the tax office and pick up the stamps for they're stuff.
If this is it, I don't see any way around paying it or getting it waived. Good Luck.
I didn't really consider this drug talk but more of a discussion of silly laws. If I'm wrong, feel free to remove this.
^troo, I think this is more of a silly law thing too. I was telling a friend about it and she didn't believe me so I got to poking around a bit. Below is an article about these laws being enforced at roo. I've heard that some people are having success by getting the tax evasion trial set FIRST - then at the criminal trial they claim double jeopardy... Just a thought.
^troo, I think this is more of a silly law thing too. I was telling a friend about it and she didn't believe me so I got to poking around a bit. Below is an article about these laws being enforced at roo. I've heard that some people are having success by getting the tax evasion trial set FIRST - then at the criminal trial they claim double jeopardy... Just a thought.
That's a good idea. A lot of time in Iowa, if you have an attorney, you can get the tax charge dropped. They use it here as an extra bond amount to keep people (evil druqk users) off the street longer. They hardly ever prosecute it.
If the example in the article is consistant with homeboy's $3300 fine then he's real lucky to just have a fine. That's a considerable amount of.. umm... "tax evasion"
^troo, I think this is more of a silly law thing too. I was telling a friend about it and she didn't believe me so I got to poking around a bit. Below is an article about these laws being enforced at roo. I've heard that some people are having success by getting the tax evasion trial set FIRST - then at the criminal trial they claim double jeopardy... Just a thought.
That's "the man". Any sort of druqk that might "expand your horizons" is stomped down on the hardest of all. We don't want any free-thinkers in our society. They cause way too many ripples in the herd.
Post by almostcertain on Aug 2, 2007 11:43:47 GMT -5
so i was reading what troo wrote about the stamps, thinking it was a joke really. then i read the article. whaaaaaaaaaat. who could go and buy those stamps?! yeah, hi there government official, let me tell you exactally how much weight im moving. what a ludacris idea that is. im stunned. and still laughing....
Technically, the tax agent cant report your information to the po-po. Of course, nothing stops the po-po from waiting outside the office to see who has stamps.
I think it would be absolutely hilarious if you actually had a stamp on your stuff when you got pinched. Can you imagine their faces? "Just doing my part to be a good citizen, officer!"
Post by lordrockinhood on Aug 3, 2007 9:59:54 GMT -5
Yeah, these stamps seem more like a way to give "them" more evidence that the crime IS intent to sell, I think... get you to incriminate yourself in advance of the bust... I mean, how can you fight a druq dealing charge if you have a tax stamp on your "product" ... a stamp that you bought from the government because your plan was to sell something???
Also, I don't know too much about law, but I don't think it can really be double jeapody because tax evasion and drug possesion are 2 different crimes, right? Any law people out there to take this one?
According to TCPR research fellow Ryan Burleson, “It is quite probable that the UST violates the Constitutional protection against double jeopardy since if a drug offender is required to pay a stamp tax or is subject to extensive fines for lack of a drug stamp at the time of a drug bust, and is also prosecuted for possessing unauthorized substances, there are multiple punishments for one offense.”
“Additionally, although purchasing a drug stamp is done anonymously, getting caught without stamps leads law enforcement agencies to gather extensive information from the drug offender. This sets up Tennessee’s tax code for a second Constitutional violation since that information can be used against the defendant in court, ultimately forcing the defendant to be a witness against himself,” said Burleson. “This is another violation of the Fifth Amendment.”
I think it would be kinda amusing to go buy a stamp - for nothing - make sure that you have nothing on or around or anyone near you - buy the stamp and walk out with it justto see what happens - I mean - do you have to show them your stuff to buy the stamp
How can the po po bust you for anything is all you have is the stamp and no product to put the stamp on?
Unfortunately, in order to have justice under the law, one must employ a licensed attorney to say the above words to a judge who may or may not hear the logic on any given day. On a "lucky" day, you may have paid an attorney 2500 bucks to get you out of a 3300 dollar fine and a record. On an unlucky day, you might have paid the attorney 3500,bucks to NOT get you out of anything. Either way, the attorney gets paid, and the innocent pays. Just depends who gets the shakedown $.
I am coming to the conclusion that staying out of states with these bogus laws is the best answer. Eventually, they will have to decide which tax they like better,the sales tax on tourists(ala Bonnaroo's gifts to Manchester et al) or a "sin" tax on sinners(ala wakarusa).
Ya might find help for your friend in the area of NormL attorneys, or Druq Policy Reform groups doing the work pro bono or at greatly reduced stipends. At least that way you'll know you are paying an attorney who is trying to effect change, rather than one preying on people like your friend, thereby capitalizing on unjust laws. good luck either way !!!
I am coming to the conclusion that staying out of states with these bogus laws is the best answer. Eventually, they will have to decide which tax they like better,the sales tax on tourists(ala Bonnaroo's gifts to Manchester et al) or a "sin" tax on sinners(ala wakarusa).
Soon all the states will have laws like this. It's too easy a way to make a buck. Which you might confer to mean that they don't *really* want the war on drugs to be *too* successful. Maybe not Wisconsin or Alaska...those two are pretty liberal on possession. I've been reading that many states are considering outlawing Salvia. Yet another method of expansion, which when discovered by the government, is crushed. Too bad for them it grows wild in many people's backyards.
Post by spookymonster on Aug 3, 2007 14:08:22 GMT -5
Salvia??? Jeebus... I've planted tons of 'em in my backyard over the years.... pretty sure I still have a purple one next to my shed. Wonder if it's the same stuff?
Yep. 100% legal...as of now. Check the internet, maybe wikipedia, to determine if you have the right strain. I'll try to say this without getting edited.... you crunch it up and use it like tobacco...it has a POWERFUL effect similar to other things that you use like tobacco, but for a brief time--typically 10 to 15 minutes.
John: We don't even understand our own music Spider: It doesn't, does it matter whether we understand it? At least it'll give us . . . strength John: I know but maybe we could get into it more if we understood it
;D
