Sure, these guys may not seem sympathy-worthy when they lose vehicles and cash seized by cops who suspect drug deals or prostitution. But the Mackinac Center for Public Policy sees a too-heavy hand of government at work locally.
Wayne County has seized more than 2,600 vehicles and collected more than $1.2 million in revenue from civil asset forfeiture over the past two years. That’s according to information received by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy through a Freedom of Information Act request.
The apparent windfall is the product of a county campaign called "Operation Push-Off." . . .
Law enforcement agencies use civil asset forfeiture to take ownership of property seized from individuals by contending that it may be associated with a crime. Officials do not have to obtain a conviction . . . and they are not even required to charge the owner with a crime.
"Prove you are an innocent owner," says this 2016 notice from Wayne County to a Jeep Grand Cherokee driver.
Lansing lawmakers may limit these actions by Wayne and other counties, Tyler Arnold writes at the Midland-based center's news site, CapCon.
Bipartisan majorities in both chambers of the Legislature have passed bills to significantly rein in a controversial legal process for police taking ownership of private property seized from individuals. . . .
A property owner would have to be convicted of or plea to a crime in criminal court before law enforcement could take ownership of a car or other possessions.
For now, though, "Michigan’s largest county appears to be ramping up the practice," Arnold posts. He quotes Maria Miller, communications director for the Wayne County prosecutor:
"During a Push-Off operation, vehicles used for the illegal purpose of selling or purchasing illegal narcotics or used for the solicitation of prostitution are immediately seized by police agencies during the occurrence of the illegal activity. The criminal activity is typically committed in the officers’ presence."
Forfeiture proceeds go to the police agency.
