Why? If it was taken in an illegal action, why can’t the person get their money back?
Different standards of proof. Any arrest charges would have to be dropped, but the person would still have to “prove” their money was not illegal.
Here’s a prime example from this past February. Man acquitted of all charges, gov’t still keeps the cash:
IOWA CITY (AP) — An appeals court says Iowa government officials can keep $33,000 in cash seized from a man later acquitted of possessing marijuana.
The Iowa Court of Appeals says the traffic stop that led to the arrest of Robert Pardee was pretextual but didn’t violate his rights.
Pardee was the passenger in a California-plated vehicle stopped by a trooper on Interstate 80 in 2012 as part of an interdiction program that pulls over vehicles for minor traffic violations for the purpose of searching for illicit drugs.
Troopers found a small amount of marijuana, $33,100 cash and drug ledgers listing amounts sold, prices and names of buyers. Pardee was charged with possession of marijuana, but later acquitted.
The court is upholding a judge who found the money was tied to a criminal offense.
Because it’s the cops’ money now. If you want it. take them to court.