This week, a state Senate committee will take up legislation to put limits on police seizures of private property.
Under current law, police agencies in Michigan can take property from criminal suspects, even if they are never convicted of a crime.
There’s legislation in both the Michigan House and Senate that would require a conviction to seize property, including cars and other valuables worth less than $50,000.
Thursday, the state senate Judiciary and Public Safety committee will take up a bill by its own chairman. Sen. Peter Lucido (R-Shelby Township) championed similar legislation when he was a House member, only to see it stall in the upper chamber.
The push to curb civil asset forfeiture also has the support of House Speaker Lee Chatfield and Attorney General Dana Nessel.
