If you & a friend are pulled over and the police find under $20,000 and nothing else, can they keep it?

Question

The money was claimed by both parties as an even split between the two.

Answer 1

No!!! once you and the second party can account for it legally then they can only confiscate the money on suspicion they will check the serial numbers and test the money for drug residue also in order to build there case, and try to find any fault in your explanation if you were under surveillance and they had linking evidence then your screwed but if none of these apply then they can only hold it for a set period of time before you can submit a police property act

Answer 2

Consult a lawyer quickly!!!
If a cop tells you the laws have changed to combat drugs in the US, have them inform you of the statute number so you can read it. This will tell you if a law pertaining to having large amounts of money makes you quilty.
I don't know the whole situation, why you were pulled over, etc, but to me this would be illegal. Check with the laws and statutes, it will be in writing!!!
Where does it state that its a crime to have a large amount of money on you or within your reach, the banks, stores, Brinks Security as well as other institutes and businesses, individuals would be quilty of this if it was illegal.
Get a copy of this statute!! If it exists, then prepare your legal case to get your money returned. I know someone that owns a business and they like to pile the money up and look at it. They take the money to the bank in grocery bags!! I guess this business would be guilty according to the cops in your area too. I don't know when it became against the law to have money.

Answer 3

First off, it is rather strange to have that kind of money ON you. Banks and businesses are required by law to report anytime someone does a transaction of $10,000 CASH. They will verify/track where it came from so as to not be connected to a criminal content.

The police will take it to hold until further investigation is proven that it does not some from a crime, etc. It may take quite a long time. You would have to sign for it, so it's not as if it is completely undocumented.

Answer 4

Yes they can keep it. They pull this crap anytime they can. There was a woman if Fl several years ago whos home was destroyed during a hurricane. She withdrew her lifes savings from the bank, packed up whatever belongs she still had, & hit the road. She gets pulled for speeding, cop finds the money, (I believe it was around 40k), & takes it. It took her 4 years & cost 20k to get it back.

Answer 5

You two raised suspicion by having all that money in your car. If no drugs or drug paraphernalia was found, or if there were no outstanding warrants for either/both of you, they can keep it, until there investigation is complete. It usually means one thing & one doesn't need to watch COPS to know what that one thing is. Why not put it in the bank?.........unless!!!!!

Answer 6

It doesn't seem right that they can keep it. If you haven't done anything wrong and there's nothing else illegal in your car, I would think if you had a million dollars in your car, the cops shouldn't be allowed to touch it. It's not THEIR money.

But the world has gone nuts, so they probably can.

Answer 7

Yes. Unless you can prove that you have received the money from legal means. The laws were changed in the 'war on drugs'.
It used to be that they had to prove you got the money illegally.
Now it is incumbent on YOU to prove where the money came from.

Answer 8

Yes, it's considered drug money even if you can prove otherwise. This has been upheld by the courts. A quick search on the subject may surprise you.

Answer 9

no way they can question where it came from and thats about it And you best have a real good answer why you r riding around with that kind of cash on you otherwisw maybe they can take it for suspicion until the thing gets investigated especially if you have a ny drug violations in the past

Answer 10

its only 20k. Youll sell enough of that stuff to make up for it.