Lawmakers, groups ask Oklahoma governor to halt card readers

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – A bipartisan group of legislators and advocacy groups are asking Gov. Mary Fallin to order a stop to the Oklahoma Highway Patrol’s use of mobile scanners capable of seizing money loaded onto prepaid debit cards by alleged criminals.

Republican Sen. Kyle Loveless of Oklahoma City and Democratic Rep. Cory Williams of Stillwater are among those who sent a letter to Fallin on Wednesday asking the governor to issue an executive order suspending use of the devices until the Legislature can address the issue.

Law enforcement officials say it’s an important tool as drug traffickers and other criminals have started loading large sums of cash on gift or prepaid debit cards for transport.

Deployment of the scanners comes at a time when civil asset forfeiture has come under criticism in Oklahoma.