It’s common law in most states that if you find something of value and turn it over to the police, and it remains unclaimed for a specified period of time, the found item (if it's lawful) usually becomes your property.

It doesn’t always work that way, but that’s the way it’s supposed to be. Now let’s get on with our story:

A couple out in Dallas, Texas, finds a bag full of money and a loaded 9mm handgun on the highway so they turn it over to the police. There’s $300,000 in that bag! My compliments to the couple for turning in the money. Many people would have walked away saying nothing.

Time passes and nobody claims the cash. By now the couple believes the $300,000 should be theirs. Remember how I told you, "it doesn’t always work that way?" This is one of those times.

The Dallas police don’t want to look like the bad guy, so they inform the disappointed couple that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) says there’s traces of cocaine on the money. That makes it "drug money" and it will be confiscated by law enforcement. Don’t you hate it when the government talks like that?

The couple hires a lawyer who, we’re certain, is aware of the big bucks at stake. The lawyer says, "so what if there’s cocaine dust on the money." He points out that studies have shown that most American paper money has traces of some kind of drug on it.

The DEA is not impressed. They want the money to buy super snooping devices and other exotic cop toys. The DEA didn’t say that, but they’re always begging for extra money to fight drugs. The Dallas police aren’t much help. They point to the DEA guy, and nod "yes" at whatever he says.

Maybe the couple will get the money. But don’t count on it, I’d recommend they not schedule a flight to Europe on the Concord or book a fancy cruise to Cozumel this spring. Life is so unfair.