ALVARADO (CBSDFW.COM) – Trailers confiscated over and over along the same stretch of I-35 are raising eyebrows in North Texas after several drivers reported police seizing their trailers and never giving them back.
It happened recently to the Dallas High School Composite Mountain Bike Team.
The team was on its way back from a competition when an Alvarado Police officer pulled the two team coaches over who were hauling the trailer.
“Did that really just happen? Or was I dreaming?” said Kaylee Tredway, a competing high school racer.
The officer who pulled the team over claimed the trailer was stolen after he could not find the main VIN number on the trailer.
“All of a sudden we’re dropped into a nightmare saying, hey this is stolen and we’re taking it. And we’re like how is this possible?” said Clint Tredway, a team coach.
Even though the team owned it for years and had it registered as homemade, the trailer was still seized.
Using a legal process that allows officers to take assets they believe are linked to crimes called “civil forfeiture,” the trailer was towed away.
“For some little police department to roll up on you and say yep, we’re taking it. I mean you just feel helpless,” said Clint Tredway.
A judge eventually awarded the trailer to the Alvarado Police Department after police brought forth evidence the original owner has reported the trailer stolen.
“I understand their frustration. They thought they did everything properly. It’s more of an education issue,” said Chief Brian Anderson of the Alvarado Police Department.
Chief Anderson said it currently has 10 trailers officers seized that are in the middle of being sorted out in court. He said it is the responsibility of the owners to trace the origins of their trailer before purchasing.
“It’s a buyer beware situation,” said Chief Anderson.
Kaylee and her father Clint said it is a law that has now left them without their $10,000 trailer and a sense of confidence.
“Don’t drive through Alvarado. I don’t ever want to go through there ever again,” said Kaylee Tredway.
Alvarado Police said 75% of the trailers officers confiscate have turned out to be previously stolen.
It happened recently to the Dallas High School Composite Mountain Bike Team.
The team was on its way back from a competition when an Alvarado Police officer pulled the two team coaches over who were hauling the trailer.
“Did that really just happen? Or was I dreaming?” said Kaylee Tredway, a competing high school racer.
The officer who pulled the team over claimed the trailer was stolen after he could not find the main VIN number on the trailer.
“All of a sudden we’re dropped into a nightmare saying, hey this is stolen and we’re taking it. And we’re like how is this possible?” said Clint Tredway, a team coach.
Even though the team owned it for years and had it registered as homemade, the trailer was still seized.
Using a legal process that allows officers to take assets they believe are linked to crimes called “civil forfeiture,” the trailer was towed away.
“For some little police department to roll up on you and say yep, we’re taking it. I mean you just feel helpless,” said Clint Tredway.
A judge eventually awarded the trailer to the Alvarado Police Department after police brought forth evidence the original owner has reported the trailer stolen.
“I understand their frustration. They thought they did everything properly. It’s more of an education issue,” said Chief Brian Anderson of the Alvarado Police Department.
Chief Anderson said it currently has 10 trailers officers seized that are in the middle of being sorted out in court. He said it is the responsibility of the owners to trace the origins of their trailer before purchasing.
“It’s a buyer beware situation,” said Chief Anderson.
Kaylee and her father Clint said it is a law that has now left them without their $10,000 trailer and a sense of confidence.
“Don’t drive through Alvarado. I don’t ever want to go through there ever again,” said Kaylee Tredway.
Alvarado Police said 75% of the trailers officers confiscate have turned out to be previously stolen.
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