IL - Drink and Drive and the Police could be driving your car

[Maestro]

Tuesday, May 05, 2009
[replacer_a]
Illinois State Police Seize and Keep Desirable Cars for Personal UseIllinois State Police troopers seized a high-performance muscle car and set it aside for the personal use of an influential police official. The Associated Press reported that a suspected drunk driver in a 2006 Dodge Charger was pulled over in January 2007. The troopers used a state seizure law to confiscate the vehicle. Once the paperwork was complete, the 425-horsepower vehicle -- which had an as-new base price of $38,000 -- was handed over for the personal use of Ron Cooley, 56, the Executive Director of the Illinois State Police Merit Board. Taxpayers also pick up the fuel tab for gas-guzzling 6.1 liter V-8 as he drives to and from work each day and on various business trips. A good relationship with the merit board is essential for any state trooper looking to move up into a position of responsibility. "The mission of the Illinois State Police Merit Board is to remove political influence and provide a fair and equitable merit process for the selection of Illinois State trooper candidates and the promotion and discipline of Illinois State Police officers," the board website explains. According to AP, the Charger is just one of two dozen desirable cars -- including an Audi and a Cadillac Escalade -- grabbed and kept by state troopers. State police officials decline to identify the beneficiaries of the confiscated car policy claiming it could endanger officers if the type of car they drove at taxpayer expense were made public.
Source: (Associated Press, 4/30/2009)

[MEM-TEK]

Sounds more like the merit board is in the business of handing out prizes. And that gives officers an incentive to break or bend the law.

[lugnuts]

this was all over the news last week. didn't go over well on the talk radio station I listen to. many. lets just say outrage is an understatement.

but with the corruption in this state this is just another day as usual. remember the Gov is being charged with trying to sell a senate seat.

[supercowpowers]

State police officials decline to identify the beneficiaries of the confiscated car policy claiming it could endanger officers if the type of car they drove at taxpayer expense were made public.

That's very telling. Around here there are plenty of cars that are driven at taxpayer expense. They have blue municipal plates on them and we even have a hotline for reporting misuse of official vehicles.

But these clowns know what they're doing is wrong, or they wouldn't be afraid of anyone finding out.

[Stealth Stalker]

Typical Illinoise style corruption.

[th3 factory freak]

This is plain outrageous, this needs to go all the way to the Supreme Court in my opinion.

Who is this guy think he is to take a car that does not belong to him because of a DUI? What kind of a law is this?