Ultra conservatives and ultra liberals who have signed on to Senate Bill 5935, and its sister bill House Bill 1995, are on the prowl to stop what they see as the trampling of due process when law enforcement seizes assets believed to be purchased with drug money. However, while pushing the bill under the guise of property rights, they're actually trampling all over due process that already exists in our judicial system.
Current law requires law enforcement to provide probable cause to seize items.
My kid could use one of those. Next comes a judicial review in order to even declare the items forfeited. Once that happens, people still have 45 to 90 days to request a hearing and claim the belongings. Many law enforcement officials have already argued against the bill. If passed, it would destroy most departments' narcotics units because the money seized in sizeable drug busts is used to fund the programs, officials said.