Bureaucrats get EBay fever

SFgate ^ | 2-28-03 | Suzanne Herel

[Inspector Harry Callahan]

That pocketknife you surrendered to airport security screeners might now be tucked away in someone else's pocket -- someone who bought it on EBay.

Under the handle CaliforniaGold2000, the state is using the Internet auction house to convert scores of confiscated items to cash... Read the rest

[Inspector Harry Callahan]

Did a search and was surprised this hadn't been posted already.

[camle]

isn't this the taking of personal property without compensation?

[Inspector Harry Callahan]

Here's the list from Ebay

What an outrage. What ever happened to just compensation?

Welcome to the "safe" new Amerika.

[KarlInOhio]

"Sharp" Color LCD Projector, Model XG-E650UB

I guess someone tried to sneak a "Sharp" object onto an airplane.

Lots of interesting stuff, but 1. I don't like supporting property confiscation, and 2. the lot sizes are too large.

[Inspector Harry Callahan]

FYI

[lizm_77]

How hard would it be for them to provide an envelope for you to address, pay the shipping and have your belongings sent back to you? I can't believe the option of getting your things back isn't given to you, at least it wasn't when my tweezers were confiscated last Thanksgiving... who's to say dishonest security won't start taking things just because they want them?

[dcwusmc]

Hi, Harry. Thanks for this. I see our official thieves are making bucks off the 9-11 atrocity... just as they do from the war on Americans run by FedGov. A disgusting display.

[dcwusmc]

Hi, Harry. Thanks for this. I see our official thieves are making bucks off the 9-11 atrocity... just as they do from the war on Americans run by FedGov. A disgusting display.

[mwyounce]

Unbelievable.... Why doesn't California just take the money out of your wallet as you go through the checkpoint... wouldn't that be simpler?

I had a ball point pen taken out of the front pocket of my carry-on back in October, 2001. I wasn't so mad that they took it, but they didn't even bother to tell me they took it... I had to find out when I got my stuff out to do some work on the plane and my pen was gone.

So, if Texas ever starts doing this same thing, and someone bids on some cheap ball point pens, you can send one to me! :-)

[pubmom]

A few months ago while traveling with his wife, my brother forgot to remove his leatherman from his pocket and the good folks at Pittsburgh International relieved him of it.(I bought it for him, so I was ticked. I've since replaced it.)

A system of returning the items should be the way to go.

[Freedom4US]

They'll stop this kind of thing real quick, now that it's out. Not that they won't find another way of selling it, but this has to stop. This is theft, plain and simple.

[Inspector Harry Callahan]

...who's to say dishonest security won't start taking things just because they want them?

Good point. And probably the very reason there's no "high end" knives in those Ebay auction lots.

[gorebegone]

Hey those look like my tools!!

[jimt]

This is theft, pure and simple.

But then again, so is "asset forfeiture".

Land of the sheep and home of the controlled.

[Inspector Harry Callahan]

who's to say dishonest security won't start taking things just because they want them?

Good point. On a related note, did you notice there's no "high end" knives in those Ebay auction lots?

In other words, this corrupt program is ripe for even more corruption.

Wake up folks. Drive when possible.

[gorebegone]

Hey that looks like the stuff I used to pay my vehicle registration fees last year!

[Inspector Harry Callahan]

Well, that's two replies that have been swallowed. Testing...

[gorebegone]

Hey that looks like the stuff I used to pay my vehicle registration fees last year!

[Daus]

This must have been a doozey of a carry-on!

4 New Firestone FR 440 - P175/80R13 M&S Tires

To be clear, the items are for the entire California Surplus supply program, not just the seizure stuff.

[Cagey]

Among the oddest items confiscated and sold were at least three circular saws, hatchets, curtain rods and a little girl's baton, said Robb Deignan, ...

And to think of all the Miss America contestants who can't get their props on planes now.

You've been missed, Harry.