Clemmons Introduces Law Restricting Police Seizures When No Arrests Are Made

“State lawmakers plan to hold a press conference Wednesday at the Statehouse in Columbia to introduce bills to reform civil asset forfeiture in South Carolina,” said Rep. Alan Clemmons.

Horry County Representative Alan Clemmons stepped up.

Last week, MyrtleBeachSC News republished a portion of Greenville Online’s series “Taken”. You can see that article here: https://myrtlebeachsc.com/taken-usa-today-reports-82-mbpd-seizures-of-black-peoples-property/

The investigative report exposed how current state law allows City of Myrtle Beach police and other local governments to seize assets from tourists and locals without charging them with a crime.

The article went viral locally.

Afterwards, we reached out to all of Myrtle Beach City Council, Mayor Bethune, and City Manager John Pedersen stating that these actions were wrong and should be illegal.

We then reached out to S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson.

Over this past weekend Representative Clemmons said that he,
Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, Rep. Todd Rutherford and others would hold a press conference at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday in the first floor of the Statehouse. Lawmakers plan to introduce a bill that Clemmons, R-Myrtle Beach, said would protect property rights and make forfeiture of property dependent upon a criminal conviction. It would move South Carolina’s law from one of the weakest in the country to one of the strongest, he said.  

Dave Schwartz, Seth Powell and I discussed the issue on last week’s Wednesday Watercooler. It was only afterwards that I received notice the matter was being “looked into.” Our viewers make a difference. This show is watched by many in the S.C. Delegation and other local politicians as well.