![Governor Signs Asset Forfeiture Reform](https://townsquare.media/site/506/files/2019/05/Governor-Burgum_Stephen-Yang-.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Governor Signs Asset Forfeiture Reform
Gov. Burgum has signed the last bills remaining from the recent legislative session, including one reforming civil asset forfeiture.
The Bismarck Tribune reports the governor signed the bill Thursday. The bill's sponsor, Sen. Rick Becker, said the bill was designed to to eliminate the "perverse incentive" of "policing for profit."
In a curious coalition, small-goverment conservatives and civil libertarians have long opposed asset forfeiture laws which they say unfairly "punish" the innocent. The American Civil Liberties Union describes it thus:
"Civil forfeiture allows police to seize — and then keep or sell — any property they allege is involved in a crime. Owners need not ever be arrested or convicted of a crime for their cash, cars, or even real estate to be taken away permanently by the government."
The ACLU notes that civil forfeiture was originally presented as a way to cripple "large-scale criminal enterprises" by diverting resources. 'But today, aided by deeply flawed federal and state laws, many police departments use forfeiture to benefit their bottom lines, making seizures motivated by profit rather than crime-fighting."
[Sources: Bismarck Tribune, ACLU website]
More From Cool 98.7 FM
![OFFICIAL Ages 19+ And Online Sports Gambling At ND Casinos](http://townsquare.media/site/503/files/2022/11/attachment-RS43371_GettyImages-1171311922-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![North Dakota’s “Doug Love” Is Back On The Rise!](http://townsquare.media/site/503/files/2021/05/GettyImages-643963176.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![125 Bismarck-Based National Guard Members Deployed To Border.](http://townsquare.media/site/503/files/2021/10/attachment-justin-cron-_gtwjIzQLq4-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![North Dakota Special November 2021 Legislative Session Is On!](http://townsquare.media/site/503/files/2021/09/attachment-GettyImages-3352579.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![ND Governor Burgum’s Briefs Are Back! Where Ya Been Doug?](http://townsquare.media/site/503/files/2021/09/attachment-GettyImages-643963194.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![North Dakota Banks Just Got a New Competitor with Chase Bank](http://townsquare.media/site/504/files/2021/08/attachment-CHASE.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![How Many Bismarck National Guard Members Deployed To The Border?](http://townsquare.media/site/503/files/2021/07/attachment-RS23862_GettyImages-1064354612-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![Burgum Announces $350 million Soybean Processing Plant.](http://townsquare.media/site/503/files/2021/05/marvin-meyer-H7egBPEROcU-unsplash.jpg?w=980&q=75)
![ND Gov. Not The Life Of The Party- Or His Own Party!](http://townsquare.media/site/503/files/2020/03/Gov-Burgum_Stephen-Yang-Getty1.jpg?w=980&q=75)