I just stumbled upon someone asking how much cash he can carry on himself without a risk of a police officer taking it away. Then when I scrolled through comments it sounded like a police officer can decide to take away your money and NEVER EVER give it back!
Is that actually true??? I mean, the idea that police officer can take your money if they decide you have “too much” on you is insane already. But even if so, there is no way you can’t then go to police station or something and get it back!
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I think the amount of cash varies by state, but yeah, don’t carry large sums of money in the USA. Aside from making you a target for crime, police can also seize it. I’ve heard $2,000 cash is the cutoff. But again, I think it varies depending on where you are.
Anyway, this is because while they can’t arrest you for probably committing a crime they have no evidence of, as you are a person with rights, your property does not have rights. So if they suspect your property was used in a crime they can seize it.
Cash is especially suspect because 99% of legitimate large transactions take place by card or check. So cops can and will seize money.
There’s also the urban legend mill about cops using that money after people give up on trying to get it back. I don’t know how true that is, I am not aware of any evidence on it either way.
The whole thing was allowed in the first place in an attempt to stop organized crime. So like many of the shitty things we put up with, the initial intentions were good. It did help break up the Chicago Mob. So it is an effective tool for law enforcement. But… yeah. Definitely has the potential to be abused.
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