NICHOLS, S.C. — A small South Carolina town along a popular route to the coast seized the equivalent of $135 for each of its residents during traffic stops over two years.
The Greenville News and Anderson Independent Mail found police in Nichols took a total of $50,000 from people in 50 different traffic stops in 2014 and 2015. Court records show only three of those people were ever convicted of a crime.
The officers involved in the stops didn't talk to the newspapers, which are reviewing civil asset forfeiture in South Carolina. The traffic stops ended after Nichols suffered its first of two massive floods in 2016.
Several lawmakers told the newspapers they will introduce bills to limit police from seizing money and assets until someone is convicted of a crime.
