Seized Vehicles Creating Big Bucks for Law Enforcement

Tipton County, Tn - Even with three acres, the Tipton County Sheriff's Office says you'd be surprised how quickly property from drug seizures stacks up.

When their storage area became too cramped and space was limited, they switched to selling on the internet. They've joined more than 200 other law enforcement agencies that are going to online auctioning.

The website they use is called "Gov Deals." The site allows government and law enforcement agencies to sell surplus or confiscated items.

Log and you can find anything from fire trucks to forklifts.

Tipton County says the site hasn’t only saved lot space. The switch to online auctioning has also made the department more money than it was making with live auctions.

"It's costly to get an auctioneer and advertising on all those things…you don't have to come on a Saturday at 6am in the morning," says Chief Donna Turner.

Turner says more of their confiscated cars, bikes, and all-terrain vehicles are selling for better prices.

And she says the person who keeps track of what the department has for sale and then sold was someone already on the Sheriff's Office Payroll.

Shelby County Sheriff Mark Luttrell says vehicles seized after drug arrests in his department are kept for a year. He says they contract with a local auctioneer to try and sell them all at one time.

"We get a pretty good turnout for these events. Seems to move quicker for us to do it that way," he says. "Also, I like to think it keeps the money in the local community…provides work for local companies who orchestrate these auctions."

Tipton and Shelby County say it's not unheard of for someone busted with drugs to want to buy back their property.

"Some drug dealers are buying their own cars back, which is their right once we get the car. They just have to pay to get it back if they want it," says Chief Turner.

Last year, Shelby County made $302,000 in the sale of 89 seized drug cars and other items. Since signing up with Gov Deals in April of 2009, Tipton County has sold 80 vehicles for a total of $85,000.

"I take some pride in saying we take the proceeds from illegal activity and we're able to take those proceeds and put them to positive use in fighting crime," says Luttrell

Whatever money they make then goes into other drug investigations and equipment needed to carry them out.

So, while Tipton and Shelby County have their own way of selling the seized property they take in from drug suspects, the money goes to the same place, meaning the taxpayers don't have to foot the bill.