This 71-Year-Old Woman Didn’t Commit a Crime. But She Fought the Gov't to Get Her Seized Jeep Back

The Rock Island County Sheriff's Department seized a 2009 Jeep Compass after its driver was arrested for driving with a suspended office. The driver, though, didn't own the car.

Melissa Quinn, --January 18, 2016

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A 71-year-old woman in Rock Island County, Ill., found herself in the middle of the complex system of civil forfeiture laws as she successfully fought to have her Jeep Compass returned after it was seized by law enforcement for a crime she didn’t commit.
Judith Wiese’s car was seized under Illinois civil forfeiture laws after her grandson was arrested for driving with a suspended license. As the city moved to forfeit the car, the 71-year-old challenged the seizure in court and was successful, getting her Jeep back yesterday. However, experts say her experience highlights issues with the civil forfeiture system, and particularly vehicle seizures that occur when the owner of the property didn’t commit the crime. More...

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