The Texas town of Tenaha is apparently not doing too well. Many stores and companies have gone out of business. They don't seem to have enough money to fix a broken window in Town Hall. So, it looks like they've turned to a state asset-forfeiture law to beef up the town's coffers.
This law allows police, should they stop you for a possible violation, to present you with two choices - sign a document turning over all the possessions you have on you and in your car to the town or be charged with a crime, the crime varying between a traffic offense to drugs. Of course, just about all of the people charged under this law are out-of-towners.
You should know that Tenaha is a small town near nothing. It's not a place where things move fast. So, if you protest your innocence and refuse to sign over your assets, you may have to return often before your case is heard. Many people weigh their options and decide to turn over their watches or money or jewelry or...
Perhaps Governor Perry should not reject all of the unemployment money the federal government wants to give Texas. He might be able to give some to Tenaha, which might result in the town not having to resort to shady practices to pay their bills.
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