actually they can and do every day! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_forfeiture_in_the_United_States#Traffic_stops https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_forfe

actually they can and do every day! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_forfeiture_in_the_United_States#Traffic_stops https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_forfeiture_in_the_United... "In May 2010 a couple was driving from New York to Florida and they were stopped by police because of a cracked windshield. During questioning, the officer decided that $32,000 cash in the van was "probably involved in criminal or drug-related activity", seized it, shared it with federal authorities under equitable sharing. The victim hired a lawyer to get back the seized money who urged settling for half of the seized amount, and after the lawyer's fees, the victim got back only $7,000."