A car can be many things. A mode of transportation, a status symbol, and an asset, but what do you do when you’re stopped by the police, and your car is suddenly taken away? Unfortunately, many Michigan drivers are having to figure that out as police ramp up efforts to stop drag racing, which involves seizing cars of drivers with suspected involvement. Recently, one of Traffic Court Buddy’s clients was able to get back his Lamborghini after it was seized by Detroit police, but only after a long and extensive process.
Client’s Lamborghini Seized By Detroit Police
Recently, Sean Tien was stopped by the police while driving his Lamborghini down the road in Detroit, MI. When the lead officer arrived, Tien was given notice that his cars were being seized but refused to tell him why while he was recording footage for his Youtube channel, Dreamcars Daily.
After turning off his camera, he was informed that his vehicles were being seized due to a false claim that he had been involved in drag racing. Tien immediately reached out to his attorney, who advised him to surrender the vehicles and handle everything on the backend.
During the process of trying to get his cars back, the Chief James White of the Detroit Police department paraded Tien’s vehicles around, hoping to use them as an example to deter others from drag racing. Chief White then made false claims, including “All these people have been arrested and are looking at prosecution,” even though Tien had not been arrested or even ticketed for the incident.
Sean’s attorney eventually found that the Lamborghini’s were seized due to a Youtube video that Tien had posted of his car in a race. However, there was no proof of where, when, or under what circumstances that video was made, nullifying any claims that he was breaking Michigan laws.
Sean’s attorney was then met with a wall as the city was making it almost impossible for him to process the paperwork for Sean to get his cars back. The office was only open three days a week for a few hours due to COVID. Furthermore, you couldn’t go inside the building, and Tien’s lawyer was having a difficult time getting them on the phone.
Tien’s attorney was able to help return Sean’s Lamborghinis, although the process took almost two months and cost several thousand dollars. Furthermore, upon receiving his vehicles, Tien found that while in police custody, his vehicles had incurred several thousand dollars worth of damage. Tein currently plans to file a suit against the city for costs and damages.
An Ongoing Issue In Detroit
Unfortunately, situations like Tien’s are all too common in Detroit. According to Michigan law, your vehicle can be seized without warning if you’re suspected of having observed or been around a drag race of any kind. If police suspect that you have been racing, they can stop you and take away your vehicle.
There have been reports of individuals who were stopped in traffic, late for work, due to other people racing, only to have their vehicles taken due to their close proximity to the race. Very little is being done to address the unfairness of these laws, making it more important than ever for Michigan drivers to have qualified and professional legal representation.
What To Do If Your Car Gets Seized By The Police
If you or someone you know has had their car seized by the police, the best thing you can do is hire a traffic court attorney. Qualified individuals will help you navigate the process of getting your car back and make sure that you aren’t held liable for costs or damages due to an unfair seizure.
Whether you were at fault or not, trying to get your car back on your own can extend the process and limit your chances of success. Reach out to a qualified traffic court attorney today to find out how you can take the correct steps in getting your vehicle back after it is seized by Detroit police.
We Can Help!
At Traffic Buddy, we believe that every individual should have access to legal representation for any traffic-related charges. From tickets to forfeiture of vehicles, we make it our mission to help provide all the facts to help ensure you receive the minimum possible penalties for any alleged infraction. If you need traffic court representation, reach out today!