gflight's Link
So just what was it that led police to target the homeowners? Cocaine? Marijuana? Meth? Raw milk?
None of the above. This bizarre and infuriating case involves no illicit substance whatsoever. It's a case about wine. Legally purchased wine, at that.
Goldman and Kurtzman are now fighting the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in court. They argue the state's seizure of more than 2,400 bottles of fine wine is unconstitutional and are seeking to force Pennsylvania to return the entire collection. The state, on the other hand, has designs on destroying the wine.
I am surprised they don't have wine registration or buy back programs.....
Want to buy wine over the internet? Pennsylvania says go right ahead, so long as the buyer gets "it shipped to the Wine & Spirits Store of their choice." The state wants to keep an eye on what you're buying—especially because it won't let you buy wines that are available in the state store.
Want to ship wine to Pennsylvania? It's easy! Just "add a $4.50 handling fee, Pennsylvania's 18% liquor tax, 6% sales tax (and 2% sales tax in Philadelphia or 1% Allegheny counties)." The state wants a cut of your purchase.
Driving through Pennsylvania with a few bottles of wine, and think it's alright to stop off at hotel for the night? Since your wine's not "merely transported through the state, without stopping[,]" the law would seem to indicate that you need a buy a license for that wine—whether you drink it or leave it in the car.
Next thing you know someone will be shot or strangled over this....
It's sort of like prostitution. It's not the actual sex that will get you in trouble, but the fact that MONEY is involved, money which the government isn't getting a piece of. You can have sex with any consenting adult of your choice in private and as long as money isn't directly involved you're fine. In fact, you can even spend money...a LOT of money in fact...on someone in the form of dinner, movie/show etc. and if sex is somehow involved it's prefectly alright as long as it's not paid directly for sex.
and choked to death by said officer that refused to follow procedure.
190% tax increase + refusal to comply + refusal to follow procedure = Man killed over a couple cigarettes.
