UPDATE.. FOX NEWS tonight.. FEDS ADMIT that SEIZING the 68 land rover defenders in NC was WRONG.. 

when you go to the link in racing flea's post, scroll all of the way down, to find the defender article:

Homeland Security to return seized Land Rover Defenders to U.S. buyers Kurt Ernst Jun 3rd, 2015 at 8am - See more at: //blog.hemmings.com/index.php/page/2/#sthash.xwbgxXVA.dpuf

Looks like the whole thing will be settled out of court, thanks to the pro-bono work of one of the good lawyers (the 99% that are the bad ones give the rest a bad name).

"The Defender remained cosmetically similar throughout its production run, making it difficult for a novice to tell a legal 1988 Defender apart from an illegal 1998 Defender wearing an older VIN. Low mileage examples in pristine condition command the highest prices, so there is a financial incentive for unscrupulous exporters to swap VIN plates, potentially leaving U.S. buyers who aren’t marque experts at risk. In some cases, older models have been retrofitted with newer parts, potentially blurring the line between legal and illegal in the eyes of U.S. Customs inspectors.

That’s likely what triggered the seizure of vehicles imported by Richardet, and the fact that the government has dropped its case makes a strong statement that the evidence may not have held up in court. All of the vehicles in question are now at least 26 years old, and none has been proven to carry a swapped VIN. Still, without Hedrick’s pro-bono efforts on behalf of the owners, the tale may not have had such an optimistic outcome; the vast majority of civil forfeiture cases end without any return of property seized."

Norm

seems like the lawyers always win

//blog.hemmings.com/index.php/page/2/

racing. flea.. added note I see  today URBAN LAND CRUISERs has done belly flop and is bankrupt in Atlanta.. they seem to have done THE BP..  ( missing deposits and cars) 

racing flea  check out the BLOG on HEMMINGS motor news today.  great article there. also...

good I am glad this insanity is being covered. every day the thought crosses my mind are minis next.

FOX news is coming up atlanta  to visit the land rover owners in this case and interview WILL HENDRICK.. will advise when it be on TV  .. Article on www.lro.com today about the 68 land rovers getting out of JAIL.

he should be hung like all criminals, of course after a fair trial.

he reminds me of nifong and his duke rape case

racing flea.. SAME steve west.  federal ADA in wilimington NC.. I saw today in NY TIMES. now HE is being investigated.. ) .

Id like to see someone sue rover for their "mistake". those owners of the defenders should go thru thier vehicle and find anything wrong with it and send a bill to the govt.

that steve west guy if he is the same guy in this case is a total douch bag.A typical I am in power and you will bow to me.

//www.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article20213898.html

But the prosecutor on the case, Steve West, was unmoved. Notified of the hearing by McLellan’s lawyer at the time, he responded with concern that the seizure warrant in the case, filed under seal but later given to McLellan, had been handed over to a congressional committee, according to an email exchange provided to The New York Times by the Institute for Justice, a libertarian public interest law firm that has taken over the case.

“Your client needs to resolve this or litigate it,” West wrote. “But publicity about it doesn’t help. It just ratchets up feelings in the agency.” He concluded with a settlement offer in which the government would keep half the money

That's good news Bill and another fine example of our US tax dollars at work.

no one gets fired from gov't, they get reassigned as in the TSA this morning . once in gov't, they stay forever with their pensions

lets hope the ADA.. gets a visit AGAIN from Internal affairs..  case #  5-14 CV 00034-F  in US FEDERAL Court in Wilmington NC.

Someone's getting fired. lol

well.. very good news. ALL the land rover is jail have been RELASED today.  NO storage charges and  CBP / DHS is paying on their DIME to tow the land rovers home to their owners..  my guess the ADA steve west in this case  is NOT happy camper..  seems the DOJ is investigating him over the IRS seizures cases.. ( NY TIMES)  last week..  

 

 

the ADR  ( mediation ) is going to second day.. on this monday.. update then..

TM smith .many thanks for the link. I was too stupic to figure how to do that.. bc

try this one:

//jalopnik.com/the-land-rover-defender-seizure-case-could-be-settled-n-1705781932

 

that link doesn't work for me Bill.

I'd be interested in the info on original engines on 25 year old vehicles.  I've read it recently and wondered if that had been in effect always or is something new on import regs.

 

Just in from Patrick George  with  //Jalopnik.com/the-land-rover-defender-case-could-be-settled-n-17057819  Seems the DOJ is backing off this here in NC..  and going to ADR.. Alternative  dispute resolution  ..  They were 68 Land rovers defenders SEIZED by CBP..   44 have been returned.. seems Jag/Land rover north america gave CBP ( US CUSTOMS ) bad info about the vin and engine numbers..  And rumour is that you will import any vehicle that is 25 years and older IF it has  just the original frame..engine swaps  were NOT allowed in the past... unpdate on 29 May 15 .. the court date here in NC