1

Inspired by this Judge Judy case: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyCtWQsIqAg

The plaintiff was not allowed to own a car, allegedly because she had too many traffic violations.

Is this possible? In what states there's legislation stating that people can lose the right to own property? Or is it something the courts can do as a punishment?

Mindwin Remember Monica
  • 2,643
  • 1
  • 17
  • 24

2 Answers2

4

Judge Judy is a "reality" TV show. She is no longer acting as an actual judge, and the producers of the show more or less get to determine how the "case" goes. I wouldn't rely on any claims you may have heard on the show. They may be hopelessly garbled.

For example, it may be that their license was suspended so it might be difficult for them to buy insurance and insurance is mandatory in every state but NH. Car dealers (except in NH) require proof of insurance to sell a car. This might effectively prevent them from owning a car. Or, it could be they are on the "scofflaw" list for failure to pay parking or traffic violation fines. In Seattle a car can be booted if it is registered to the scofflaw, which might inspire some people to register a car under someone else's name.

In the larger picture the government in the US can certainly forbid certain forms of ownership. For example the federal government forbids me from owning nuclear weapons, anti-aircraft missiles, ricin, child pornography, and a whole bunch of drugs.

0

This is unlikely to happen.

The law prohibits you to from driving a car on public roads in certain cases. I don't see how it would be possible to prohibit you from legally purchasing a vehicle. Nothing has ever kept you from building your own roads and driving on it or driving on somebody else's (Like track days at a race course.)

The USA is committed to free trade and not allowing to legally buy a vehicle would have problems when faced with a constitutional test. Especially, the 14th Amendment, which states the following...

Amendment XIV - Section 1

All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

(emphasis mine)

Neil Meyer
  • 7,825
  • 1
  • 37
  • 81