They will then bring in a drug sniffing dog they've trained to notify the police officer of a presence of drugs on command, and voila, there's reasonable grounds to search your vehicle.
"One of my in-laws was EOD in the US Army, and has rode in this vehicle. You need to find a dog that will not signal on explosives of any kind. Furthermore, the clock on this stop, per <supreme court decision about unreasonable roadside detention>, is starting to run a bit long. Here is my attorney's card."
Good luck with that. There are multiple reasons cops use to do a search if they want to. Probable cause can range from seeing something sticking out from under your seat, speeding, suspicion of being under influence, or being in proximity of another crime. Pair that with the incentive of civil forfeiture profits and it’s not looking like a good idea to travel with 25k
I am convinced that if the American police forces wish to detain, arrest, or take your money, they will find a reason to do so, or create one where none was there before. Assets forfeiture, detainment, and arrest without legitimate judicial reason is deeply unfair. Regardless of innocence that may be found and adjudicated later, the damage to ones reputation, employment, and even banking can be disastrous. Recourse is often costly or non-existent.
The one time I was asked to be searched while driving I declined. They immediately called a drug dog, yanked its leash, and called it a drug hit. I then hung out for an hour while they confirmed I was a poor college student with zero drugs.
Driving with any amount of cash above a few hundred will get you robbed by the police in asset forfeiture. It happens everyday around the country to small business owners that deal with a lot of cash.
