High court likely to say states can't levy excessive fines

Outcome could help man recover confiscated $40,000 Land Rover

IN this Aug. 13, 2018, file photo, Tyson Timbs poses for a portrait at his aunt's home in Marion, Ind. Five years ago, Timbs had his $42,000 Land Rover taken by the government in a process known as "civil asset forfeiture," after he pled guilty to selling $260 of heroin. Lawyers for Timbs and the State of Indiana will argue whether Eighth Amendment protection from "excessive fines" applies to civil forfeitures at the state level, in front of the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday.

excessive fines.jpg — IN this Aug. 13, 2018, file photo, Tyson Timbs poses for a portrait at his aunt's home in Marion, Ind. Five years ago, Timbs had his $42,000 Land Rover taken by the government in a process known as "civil asset forfeiture," after he pled guilty to selling $260 of heroin. Lawyers for Timbs and the State of Indiana will argue whether Eighth Amendment protection from "excessive fines" applies to civil forfeitures at the state level, in front of the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday.

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court left little doubt Wednesday that it would rule that the Constitution's ban on excessive fines applies to the states, an outcome that could help an Indiana man recover the $40,000 Land Rover police seized when they arrested him for selling about $400 worth of heroin.

Associated Press

Associated Press