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The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today

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Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today

#191

Post by yukoncornelius »

YokoZar wrote: post #16
yukoncornelius wrote: post #5

If this story went down exactly as Mike suggests the agent will lose her job or at least her federal law enforcement qualification. On the other hand, Mike is pleading his case in the court of public opinion, and his reputation is likely going to get him a lot of popular support either warranted or unwarranted.

What on earth makes you think the agency wouldn't cover for her even if it knew everything was true as stated?

If she acted as Mike suggests she likely has a history of being an idiot and CBP will be happy to reprimand/release her.

Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today

#193

Post by jrs235 »

I’m sure they’ll say they haven’t seized the property yet… They’re just holding onto evidence. After Michael spends thousands on lawyers fees to get it back and prevent a default judgement and seizure he might get it back. This could turn into one of those ridiculous, United States vs Buddy (yes against the property not the person) cases where Michael will have more trouble defending the boat as only a third party witness if they allow his testimony… After all they’ll claim there is no known rightful owner and that it was abandoned at customs. Sick.

Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today

#194

Post by nitrogen »

melvinmt wrote: post #146
justin66 wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This highlights a problem which isn't unique to Australia. For example, if a potential employer (or whoever) asks you if you've ever been arrested and your record has been expunged or you've been pardoned, you are expected to lie and say "no". That is how the system works. It sucks, but learning how to deal with these sorts of things is part of the price one has to pay when they have a run-in with the law. I'm not su…

I'm wondering, isn't asking for your criminal history during job interviews the same as discriminating based on age or race? I mean, even if you were convicted, you've paid the price by doing your time and after that you should have equal opportunities at a job like anyone else, right? Maybe I'm just too idealistic but I never understood why we hardly give these people a second chance. And then people wonder why reci…

If you've got nothing on your record, you'll probably be pereived as a good person. If you have any negative history at all, suddenly you become a fundamentally bad person who's just being good right now. At least, you've proven that you are "capable" of doing something "wrong", even if it was just being at school on the day of a protest.

What nobody wants to admit is that, in the right circumstances, most people are "capable" of anything.

Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today

#195

Post by nitrogen »

rayiner wrote: post #73
homosaur wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Coast Guard was placed there for financial gerrymandering. The idea that they are part of DHS is a horrible joke. Same with most of what you mentioned. Bush/Obama has shoved everything in there to create a psuedo military branch so it can't be declined in the future. Disgusting actions, honestly.

Bush/Obama shoved everything in there because people it was a national outrage after 9/11 that we had different departments for these things. We got what we goddamned asked for. It's not Bush's fault, or Obama's fault, but your fault and my fault.

Why should everyone accept collective blame for decisions they didn't make or support in any way?

Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today

#196

Post by nhangen »

sivers wrote: post #11

A guy I know was in a similar situation when trying to enter Australia. 20+ years ago, when he was 18, he was arrested for the afternoon because of a student protest. So now on the visa forms, when entering Australia on vacation, he was asked if he had ever been arrested. He checked yes. The border control people in Australia denied him entry, and put him on the next plane back home. When he told the border guy the f…

It was the same way getting into the Army.

'Telling the truth on security forms is absolutely essential to being granted a security clearance now or in the future.'

Then I'm told to lie about past mistakes, medical history, and anything else that leaves the application untidy.

Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today

#197

Post by GiraffeNecktie »

Zombieball wrote: post #59
GiraffeNecktie wrote: post #38

No, DHS did not "steal" your boat. They confiscated it and you'll get it back by following some lengthy and convoluted appeal process. But I seriously don't understand Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and why they have to be such utter dickheads on the Canadian border. Their Canadian counterparts (CBSA) are just as effective and efficient and somehow manage to be generally sane and rational.

I frequently travel across the border in both directions between BC & Washington. To be honest I believe that your experience often comes down to the particular agent you have to deal with in your crossing & how they feel that day. I've had US CBP agents question me at length for a simple crossing ("Are you sure you have never been arrested? Really sure? ") and Canadian CBSA agents pat me down and search every square…

When CBSA searched your car were they doing it as a power trip or were they doing it for some unexplained reason? The latter is just part of the job. I travel quite often to the states and find that the CBSA agents are almost uniformly polite and often friendly. Going the other way, I find CBP agents are generally surly and aggressive.

Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today

#198

Post by __chrismc »

rhizome wrote: post #95
tibbon wrote: post #67

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So I was pulled over while driving a few months ago. I was trying to keep up with a friend, I got behind and I made a really stupid, illegal and probably dangerous maneuver in trying to keep up. Happened to be a cop at that intersection who pulled me over. Officer comes to the car, and asks about what I just did. I pretty much immediately admit to doing it, and tell him that it was a terrible lapse of judgement on my…

Maybe, but it's also just as likely to have resulted in a ticket after confessing.

So? If you _know_ you've done something wrong, and you get caught, then you should own up and accept the consequences.

My experience is people have more respect for people who will admit to a mistake/wrong-doing than for someone who will try to weasel their way out of trouble.

Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today

#199

Post by fnordfnordfnord »

chmike wrote: post #122

They didn't stole the boat, they seized it. Not wanting to sign an erroneous legal document is respectable, calling the DHS stealers is clearly not. Don't be surprize if they won't cooperate to solve the matter ASAP.

>>Don't be surprize if they won't cooperate to solve the matter ASAP.

You think it's right for for a gov't agency to be uncooperative in retaliation for some perceived insult?

Re: The Department of Homeland Security Stole My Boat Today

#200

Post by mcherm »

tomjen3 wrote: post #136
Cushman wrote: post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I just think there's another way to look at this situation. Have you seen The Incredibles? The scene towards the beginning when Mr. Incredible helps the little old lady cheat the insurance system? I think most bureaucrats want to be that person. They want to give the good guy a break; they want to cut people who try hard a little bit of slack. It means more work for them, since they need to spend their own time to ma…

Being nice to a beaurocrat is stupid. Appear to be nice or even charming is one thing but always be willing to throw them under the bus once you are done with them. And never make excuses for them online in a hackers forum.

> Being nice to a beaurocrat is stupid.

No, being nice to ANYONE (no matter HOW they are spelled) is never "stupid".

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