HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — On Friday, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bill 2 and House Bills 4001 and 4002.
Passing with nearly-unanimous support, the bills limit civil asset forfeiture for individuals who have not been convicted of a crime in order in order to increase property protections for citizens.
“I’m proud that Michigan is joining several other states in revising our civil asset forfeiture laws to increase property protections for citizens,” Whitmer Said. “These bills will ensure due process and strengthen the inetegrity of our justice system by requiring a criminal conviction before forfeiture proceedings can begin.”
Currently, law enforcement officers are permitted to seize property if they had probably cause that the property was associated, or derived from, a controlled substance violation.
The house bills sponsored by Senator Peter Lucido (SD 8) and Representatives Jason Wentworth (HD 97) and David LaGrand (HD 75), will take effect 90 days after its enactment.
