Here is a good Washington Post series on asset forfeiture from a couple of years ago.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/inv...=.224f7ec3b968

I remember back when this got started during the heyday of the "War on Drugs", easy to pass laws when spun as cops seizing yachts and Ferraris from big time dealers. I think the general gist of the story for lawful citizens is, don't carry more than $200 in cash. If they take it, it's generally not worth your time/money to try to get it back. You may be innocent, but your property is guilty as hell!