The Washington Post has a wonderful article about police seizure of assets, typically cash, from people like us without a warrant of any kind. Many of these seizures are made when stopping drivers on the road. 2001 was when the Justice Department started to really emphasize its Equitable Sharing Program, which allows police to take cash and property without proving a crime has occurred.
The police have seized $2.5 billion dollars under this program since 2001. They get to keep 80% of it, the feds get the remainder. Although the law was meant to decimate drug organizations, it has become a routine source of funding for law enforcement at every level. The money can be used for overtime pay, training, building construction and improvements and equipment — everything from file cabinets and fitness gear to automatic weapons, surveillance systems and cars. They also can use proceeds to buy food and drinks at conferences or during disaster operations. For almost 500 departments these funds have amounted to 20% or more of their budget since 2008.
Justice does not do much to ascertain the funds are being spent on valid legal purposes. They conduct four audits a year although more than 5,000 police departments have received funds under the program.
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