There are unfortunately states within the US that do allow civil forfeiture. Its become quite well known where people will get pulled over with larger amounts of cash $10k+ and the cops don't like the answer of why they have money and they take it. It then becomes the burden of the owner to prove they lawfully own that money.

https://www.vox.com/2015/7/8/8909133/civil-forfeiture-states...

> Why would the police keep the money? It doesn't get to keep other confiscated money, does it? Wouldn't the state be the "default" recipient?

That really depends on the jurisdiction. Many police departments in the US self fund via confiscations, sometimes even not as a penalty for breaking the law. In a big city, that's a small part of the budget. In some more rural counties, it can be a surprisingly large amount of the budget.

See "civil asset forfeiture"

That sounds the same. It seems surprising to take the car. If I kill someone I don't have to give the state my house, or even my pen. Possessions - unless illegal goods - are not the state's to take.