If you are heading to the airport to enjoy that much-needed vacation, there is a good possibility that you will have some cash on you. After all, you don’t want to spend your days off looking for the nearest ATM should certain attractions not accept a credit card. And that’s fine, providing that your vacation takes place anywhere within the United States.
The situation changes drastically if you are planning to enjoy your holiday abroad. And this does not mean that you are not allowed to take cash with you. After all, you will probably need it. What it means is that you need to let TSA know that you have these funds. Mainly, you have to declare any amount you have that is over $10,000.
Why does TSA care so much about how much cash you have on you?
If you travel, you know that TSA cares about keeping everyone safe. That they look for bombs and other explosives and anything else that may imperil air travel. And cash does not fall within that objective. However, TSA also wants to keep the country safe and large sums of cash are generally associated with criminal activity, terrorism, and drug cartels.
That is why many times, even for domestic flights, you may have your cash seized if it shows up in the screening process. Then, officers from either the DEA or the FBI may question you regarding the origin of these funds. You may become nervous and hesitate when you give your answers, even if the money simply came from your own bank account. Yet, whenever any money is seized, you have the opportunity to appeal the seizure.
What can you do to recover cash seized by TSA?
As a traveler who has had their cash seized by TSA, you have a right to recover your personal property by filing a petition. Through it, you ask the federal agency involved to return the money to you. Another avenue open to you is to take your case directly to federal court.
When you present your case, you must prove that these funds were obtained legally and are not the product of illegal activity. On the other hand, the prosecution will argue that it is more likely than not that these funds were obtained illegally or that your plan is to use them for an illegal purpose.
Unfortunately, there is also the possibility that the government will keep your cash no matter how hard you try to recover it. Or at least that is what statistics presented by the Office of Inspector General which show that only 8% of the cash seized is ever returned. This may be a reflection of the fact that the majority of people that have their assets seized have no idea that there is a way for them to get their money back.
Talk to a Lawyer to Get Help Recovering What’s Yours
You have a right to defend what is yours and when you visit bvbdefense.com you will find out more about what you can do to recover your money. It may seem like an uphill battle now, but getting the right legal representation will make all the difference between getting the results you want and forfeiting your money forever.
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