Getting change for you. It looks like a new law could hit the books after a series of 10Investigates WTSP reports about police using the law to seize private property from citizens.
Our investigation showed how police in Florida were able to seize property from private citizens -- even if they were never convicted of a crime. In many cases, it was then harder for citizens to get their property back than it was to get bogus charges dropped against them.
But Tuesday, the Florida House joined their colleagues in the Senate in unanimously approving a reform that will take a lot of the profit out of police seizures.
If Gov. Rick Scott signs the bill, police will have more restrictions on how – and when – they can take your property. They'll also be able to keep a lot less of the proceeds from selling those assets.
The law would still allow police to target drug money and vehicles from serious criminals, but it should provide more protections for those of you who aren't.
There was little opposition on the floor of the Capitol, but there was quite a bit leading up to this compromise.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd led the charge against it, saying any reforms would make it harder for law enforcement to come down hard on bad guys.
A number of other bills are still on the table in this, the legislative session's final week, we'll bring you the latest as they're heard here on 10News WTSP.
