Should all US states adopt a tattletale vigilante system for enforcing its laws?

[BlacklightShade]

As part of the Texas law banning abortion they are offering $10,000 rewards for anyone that reports violators. Can a system where citizens report other citizens be helpful for different types of crimes as well such as running a red light, speeding, leaving the trash cans out too long, saying bad things about the government? Imagine a new class of occupations that consist of finding and reporting lawbreakers.

Yes, a tattletale vigilante system can be helpful

No, a tattletale vigilante system will be harmful

[abc3643]

Of course not. It MAY be unconstitutional generally, but it's definitely unconstitutional regarding the abortion law in Texas as explained in "United States of America v. State of Texas", the Federal Government's lawsuit initiated against the State of Texas in the US District Court.

https://int.nyt.com/data/documenttools/justice-department-lawsuit-texas-abortion-law/d016174e3d19703e/full.pdf

Basically, Texas is having ordinary citizens do its unconstitutional dirty work and thus attempting to not be on the hook for anything unconstitutional. The Federal Government says that, by deputizing citizens of Texas like this, they become agents of Texas (meaning they are working for the government of the State of Texas) which makes Texas on the hook for anything unconstitutional... which is what the rest of "SB 8" (their new anti-abortion law) is for two reasons. First, is related to Roe v. Wade, but second, and more important to your question, is that it violates the Supremacy Clause in Article VI of the US Constitution.

[Dargil]

If you observe someone committing a felony, its your responsibility to report them to the police. It's not a "tattletale vigilante system". It's good citizenship. What if I burned down your garage? Provable illegal abortion is no exception.

[abc3643]

There's a difference.
Generally, reporting to the police is good citizenship... but the police then don't pay you.
What's happening here is that there's payment akin to being a bounty hunter. People doing the tattletaling are no longer being good citizens but employees of the Texas law enforcement system.

[Dargil]

@abc3643 Link?

[abc3643]

Link for what?
If you are interested in what Texas is doing, the law is "Senate Bill 8" abbreviated "SB8".
https://legiscan.com/TX/text/SB8/id/2395961

Here, though, is the critical part as described by the NYT..
www.nytimes.com/.../texas-abortion-law-facts.html

"The law establishes a kind of bounty system. If these vigilante plaintiffs are successful, the law allows them to collect cash judgments of $10,000 — and their legal fees — from those they sue. If they lose, they do not have to pay the defendants’ legal costs."

You can also read the complaint filed by the Federal Government in US District Court.
int.nyt.com/.../full.pdf

[abc3643]

This may also help:

TITLE: The Texas Abortion Law Creates a Kind of Bounty Hunter. Here’s How It Works.
SUBTITLE: There is little precedent for the provision that deputizes ordinary citizens to enforce an effective ban on abortions — and offers them a financial incentive to do so.
www.nytimes.com/.../texas-abortion-law-facts.html

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

No, a tattletale vigilante system will be harmful, this will most likely cost Republican's in Texas their Elections

[Celtero]

Good luck structuring that in a way where you'd have evidence to prove one's guilt.

[Anonymous]

Snitches get stiches.

[DiegoO]

Terrible idea.