There is a legal process in the United States called civil asset forfeiture, and if you drive a truck, carry cash, or run a small business that deals in either, you need to understand it before you drive through Texas — or most other states — with your operating capital in your pocket. The case of Ameal Woods is the clearest example of why. Woods is a truck driver from Mississippi who, in May 2019, was trying to grow his small trucking business from one tractor-trailer to two. He had saved $22,800 of his own money, borrowed $13,000 from his niece, and taken $6,500 from his partner. He had $42,300 total, sealed in vacuum packaging the way his family had always stored cash, placed in the trunk of his rental car. He was driving to Houston to buy a truck. On Interstate 10 in Harris County, Texas, a sheriff’s deputy pulled him over for allegedly following a tractor-trailer too closely. Woods, who holds a CDL himself, knew he had not been following too closely, but he did not argue. When the deputy asked if he had any cash, Woods said yes and explained what it was for. When the deputy asked to search the car, Woods said yes. The deputy found the vacuum-sealed cash in the trunk, set it on the hood of his patrol car, and seized it. His stated reason: “I think this money is connected to drugs.” No drugs were found. No drugs were charged. Woods was…
