TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Two Republican lawmakers are seeking to change a state law that allows law enforcement agencies to seize money or property they believe were used in criminal activity.
Rep. Matt Caldwell and Sen. Jeff Brandes filed bills Thursday that would require an arrest before property can be seized and a conviction before law enforcement agencies can keep it.
The bill is designed to prevent abuses of the current law, which doesn't require an arrest or a conviction before property is seized, but rather law enforcement's belief that it was likely used in a crime.
Associations representing sheriffs and police chiefs have said there can be improvements made to the current law, but they don't support requiring an arrest or conviction for seizure and forfeiture.
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