Fighting Back Against Unjust Airport Cash Seizures in Charlotte

Having your hard-earned cash seized by authorities at Charlotte Douglas International Airport can feel like a nightmare. One minute you're going through routine airport screening, and the next your entire life savings is being taken away without explanation. Unfortunately, this exact scenario has happened to countless innocent travelers just passing through CLT. In North Carolina alone, over $18 million has been seized from passengers at CLT between 2000-2016. And there's likely many more unreported cases of people having money confiscated but not knowing their rights or what to do about it. Well, here's the good news - with the right legal help, you can fight back against unlawful cash seizures and get your money returned! This guide will walk through exactly how to contest a wrongful airport currency confiscation in Charlotte. We'll also look at potential defenses so you can boldly reclaim what's rightfully yours.

How to get seized money back from the airport?

Act Quickly to Start Your Claim Process

If you had cash seized by TSA or other authorities at CLT, it's crucial to act fast. For TSA seizures, you only have 30 days to file a claim contesting it. For seizures by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), it's 35 days. During this short timeframe, have a lawyer help you file a detailed claim that includes:

Your full legal name and contact information
Description of the circumstances surrounding the seizure
Exact amount of cash taken
Explanation of why the money is lawfully yours and was not connected to any criminal activity
Request that the full amount be returned to you immediately

Having an attorney draft this claim is highly recommended. They can ensure it includes the necessary facts and legal arguments to show the seizure was baseless. If the agency denies your claim or doesn't respond within 90 days, your lawyer can then file a federal civil asset forfeiture lawsuit.

Be Ready to Explain Your Cash

When contesting an airport seizure, authorities will want to know why you had so much cash in the first place. So be prepared to clearly document where it came from and what your intended purpose for it was. For example, you could explain that:

You had $15,000 in cash savings from your job that you were bringing to deposit in your bank account at home
You had $8,000 in cash wedding gifts that you were taking to deposit into your joint bank account
You had $10,000 in cash profits from selling an item that you were bringing to use for a down payment on a new car

Any records you have to back this up - like bank statements, wedding invites, sales receipts, etc. - will further help prove the money's legitimate origins.

Point Out Any Mishandling of Your Seizure

When airport security takes your cash, they must follow proper protocols around civil asset forfeiture laws. If they make any procedural mistakes, highlight this in your claim. For example, point out if they:

Failed to read you your Miranda rights
Didn't provide you with a seizure receipt
Wouldn't let you speak to an attorney
Took the money using excessive force

Bringing attention to authorities' oversights or misconduct here can demonstrate the seizure was unlawful. Your attorney can argue that such missteps violate your constitutional protections against unreasonable search and seizure.

Can law enforcement seize your money when flying with cash?

Be Ready to Take Your Case to Court

There's a good chance the agency will deny your claim, especially if it's a large amount of cash. So you need to be prepared to take the case to federal court if necessary. Your attorney will file a civil asset forfeiture complaint alleging:

The seizure violated your Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights
You're entitled to recover your full amount of confiscated cash
The agency should reimburse your legal fees

Building a strong case requires credible evidence plus your lawyer's in-depth knowledge of asset forfeiture laws. It also means being ready to go to trial if the agency won't settle. But many cases do eventually settle, resulting in full repayment of your seized cash.

You Can Get Your Money Back!

Dealing with a wrongful cash seizure is extremely disruptive and upsetting. But don't let the authorities bully you - fight back! By promptly starting your claim, refuting their reasoning, and leveraging expert legal help, you can successfully contest the seizure. It takes time and perseverance, but you have the power to right this wrong. So if you ever have cash taken from you at CLT or any other airport, contact a reputable lawyer right away. With their guidance, you can recover your hard-earned money and finally get justice.

About the Author

Tom Davis is an asset forfeiture attorney in Charlotte, NC. He specializes in helping victims of airport cash seizures fight back and reclaim their wrongfully confiscated property. Over the past 15 years, Tom has successfully recovered millions of dollars for travelers who had money unjustly taken at CLT and other major airports across the Southeast.