I have been reading that on I80 & I90 people traveling have been pulled over by police for whatever reason and then are asked if they have any drugs, guns or large amounts of cash. I have also read that if you do have large amounts of cash the police can take if from you. All they have to say is that they suspect you may be going to use this foe illegal activities.I could understand them taking your cash if you had drugs on you but it sounds like this isnt always the case and some of these people are never charged with any crime. There is information that some counties and states use this tactic to generate revenue and are trained to specifically do this. Has this ever happened to any of you fellow RVers? Most people i know do carry 2-4 thousand when on long trips.

There was a similar discussion here: https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29793466.cfm

Why carry large amounts of cash? Credit cards are far safer!

rhagfo wrote:Why carry large amounts of cash? Credit cards are far safer!X2. don't understand the need to carry huge sums of $. a credit card is an excellent idea or if you don't want or can't get a CC have your bank issue a debit card. works just like a CC (in fact most places you can select CREDIT when paying. your account is still instantly debited but no need to enter a PIN.

It certainly is possible, and has happened thousands of times over the years, thanks to the "War on Drugs". Civil forfeiture is a way for some law enforcement offices to help offset their costs. Not supposed to work that way, but whatcha gonna do? It really doesn't matter if it's large sums or small, the cops can take it. You then have to prove that it's yours legally. Large sums, in the thousands of dollars are more likely to be seized, but they can basically take what they can find. You do not have to be charged with a crime for them to take and keep your money. They just have to "feel" that it was drug money. A couple thousand dollars is probably not enough to worry about, but sums as small as $8000 have been seized.I always refuse a search just on GP.

It is called civil forfeiture and it happens all over the country. This is legalized theft by police and law enforcement. There is a push to make it illegal. I will not carry more than a couple of hundred dollars anymore no matter where I am going.

Traveling with cash | Good Sam Community

jplante4
Explorer II
Apr 10, 2019
This topic has been beat to death in the past and it never ends well. Follow the link provided by wnjj. Preemptive strike by your friendly local mod...

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Chum_lee
Explorer
Apr 10, 2019
YouTube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mevVt5sHDNA

It happens all the time.

Chum lee
jfkmk
Explorer
Apr 10, 2019
fj12ryder wrote:

I always refuse a search just on GP.

How many times have you been asked to consent to a search? Never happened to me.
rk911
Explorer
Apr 10, 2019
fj12ryder wrote:
rhagfo wrote:
Why carry large amounts of cash? Credit cards are far safer!
But OTOH I should be able to carry money without worrying about it being seized by the very people who are supposed to be defending me from people who want to take my money.

having your cash seized is, realistically, the least of your worries presuming you're not a drug runner, gun runner or human trafficker. it is much more likely that you'll be a victim of theft or robbery. flash a handful of bills at the fuel stop and your risk goes up. seems silly to me when a debit card can do everything that cash can do.
hornet28
Explorer
Apr 10, 2019
If you are carrying a large roll of cash it should be well hidden not on you and I wouldn't be telling anyone including a cop that I had it. Generally he wouldn't have a reason to be pulling you over and asking such a question. You don't have to submit to a search either make him get a search warrant. As someone else said they do when my wife and I travel most expenses go on the card and are paid when we return or sooner if we're not home by due date
Walaby
Explorer II
Apr 10, 2019
fj12ryder wrote:
It certainly is possible, and has happened thousands of times over the years, thanks to the "War on Drugs". Civil forfeiture is a way for some law enforcement offices to help offset their costs. Not supposed to work that way, but whatcha gonna do?

It really doesn't matter if it's large sums or small, the cops can take it. You then have to prove that it's yours legally. Large sums, in the thousands of dollars are more likely to be seized, but they can basically take what they can find. You do not have to be charged with a crime for them to take and keep your money. They just have to "feel" that it was drug money. A couple thousand dollars is probably not enough to worry about, but sums as small as $8000 have been seized.

I always refuse a search just on GP.

Been pulled over for a search much?

I never have, so never have had the opportunity to refuse.

Mike
obgraham
Explorer
Apr 10, 2019
I've traveled to places where the campgrounds only take cash. And I've been short of fuel when the card readers on the pumps were not working.

So I carry about 1K mostly in 20's for that reason. And I'll tell the cops to get a warrant. If they barge in anyway, I can;t do anything about that.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Apr 10, 2019
BarabooBob wrote:
It is called civil forfeiture and it happens all over the country. This is legalized theft by police and law enforcement. There is a push to make it illegal. I will not carry more than a couple of hundred dollars anymore no matter where I am going.
True, there is a movement to make civil forfeiture only applicable after actually being convicted of a crime. Imagine that. Of course it's being fought tooth and nail by the law enforcement community.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Apr 09, 2019
rhagfo wrote:
Why carry large amounts of cash? Credit cards are far safer!
But OTOH I should be able to carry money without worrying about it being seized by the very people who are supposed to be defending me from people who want to take my money.
BarabooBob
Explorer III
Apr 09, 2019
It is called civil forfeiture and it happens all over the country. This is legalized theft by police and law enforcement. There is a push to make it illegal. I will not carry more than a couple of hundred dollars anymore no matter where I am going.