New Michigan Law Empowers Police to Seize Cash at Airports
The newly signed laws will let airport police seize and permanently keep property without a criminal conviction, or even a criminal charge, so long as it’s valued at over $20,000.
Landwebs
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed two bills (HB 4631 and HB 4632) that expand civil forfeiture at airports, making it much easier for law enforcement to seize, and permanently keep, cash and other valuables from travelers without requiring a conviction, Forbes reports. While Michigan did reform its civil forfeiture laws less than three years ago by approving a criminal conviction provision for airport seizures, it only applied to cases where the owner fought back in court (a costly and lengthy process) and if the property was worth under $50,000.
The newly signed laws will let police employed by a public or regional airport authority seize property without a criminal conviction, or even a criminal charge, so long as it’s valued at over $20,000. Police have an incentive to pursue seizures in Michigan too: state law allows cops to keep 100 percent of the proceeds from forfeited property in drug cases.
