The Chicago Police Department took in $9.4 million in seized assets in 2024, including 962 vehicles worth more than $7.7 million, plus cash, according to the latest state police report, the Chicago Sun-Times reported on March 13, 2026. Every other law enforcement agency in Illinois combined reported seizing 595 vehicles, the Sun-Times reported.
How civil forfeiture works
Under Illinois law, police can seize property based on suspicion, even if the owner is never arrested, charged or convicted, the Sun-Times reported. Of the proceeds, the seizing agency keeps 65 percent, the local state's attorney's office receives 12.5 percent, appellate prosecutors receive 12.5 percent, and the state police receive 10 percent for administering the program, according to the Sun-Times.
What the department says
A Chicago police spokesman said civil asset forfeiture "plays an important role in disrupting organized criminal networks" and that the money goes toward "strengthening public safety," according to the Sun-Times. A retired suburban police chief told the newspaper forfeiture is one of the few tools that weakens criminal networks financially, not just through arrests. Critics say the system reverses the presumption of innocence.
One driver's case
A lawsuit brought by the Institute for Justice describes the case of Spencer Byrd, who was stopped by Chicago police in June 2016 for a broken turn signal. A passenger was found with heroin. Byrd was never charged, but police seized his Cadillac and held it until a judge ordered its release. Even then, according to the lawsuit, the city kept the car until he paid more than $17,000 in storage and tow fees. Byrd fought for nearly a decade and died while the lawsuit was still pending, and never got the car back, Reason reported.
What we could not confirm
Our video also described a second driver stopped for a turn signal whose case was dismissed after a judge found the search illegal. We could not find a source for that account in the reporting we reviewed, so it is not repeated here.
Our question
How many people is Chicago holding property from right now who were never convicted of anything? Tell us on TikTok, YouTube or Instagram, or write to investigations@reofact.com.
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