Mr. Jones wrote:Tons of C.A.S.H. IN YOUR POSSESSION???
YOU BETTER HAVE DOCUMENTATION OF HOW YOU EARNED IT....
OR
THE COPS JUST TAKE IT AND YOULL NEVER GET IT BACK.
All but one civil forfeiture case (on both sides) I was involved in involved known drug dealers. The other one quickly documented where the cash (90K) came from and why he had so much cash in his posesion, so he got it back quickly.
The others stupidly and voluntarily consented to searches and when the cash was found, they denied knowing it was there or that it was theirs. No sympathy here for the crooked ones.
Florida gives you "two "bites at the apple." The first "bite "is with the judge to challenge probable cause on an emergent basis, and can result in dismissal and return of the $$ pretty quickly, all things considered. The second bite is a quick jury trial on the full merit of the seizure.
Bottom line is to never give a cop permission to search and never deny the $$ is yours if it is legal.