The short answer is yes, as well as in many other circumstances. In Minnesota, all personal property is subject to forfeiture if it was used or intended to be used to commit a designated offense. Designated offenses include a felony violation of the following:
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Unlawful Transfer or Sale of Recordings (Minn. Stat. §
325E.17); - Unlawful Identity of Transferor (Minn. Stat. § 325E.18);
- Murder in the First, Second, or Third Degree (Minn. Stat. § 609.185−.195);
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Criminal Vehicular Homicide (Minn. Stat.
§ 609.2112); - Criminal Vehicular Operation (Minn. Stat. § 609.2113−.2114);
- Assault in the First, Second, Third, or Fourth Degree (Minn. Stat. § 609.221−.2231);
- Financial Exploitation of a Vulnerable Adult (Minn. Stat. § 609.2335);
- Simple or Aggravated Robbery (Minn. Stat. § 609.24−.245);
- Kidnapping (Minn. Stat. § 609.25);
- False Imprisonment (Minn. Stat. § 609.255);
- Labor Trafficking (Minn. Stat. § 609.282−.283);
- Prostitution or Sex Trafficking Crimes (Minn. Stat. § 609.322);
- Criminal Sexual Conduct First, Second, Third, or Fourth Degree (Minn. Stat. § 609.342−.345);
- Solicitation of Children to Engage in Sexual Conduct (Minn. Stat. § 609.352);
- Bribery (Minn. Stat. § 609.42−.425; 609.825; 609.86);
- Medical Assistance Fraud (Minn. Stat. § 609.466);
- Escape from Custody (Minn. Stat. § 609.485);
- Fleeing Peace Officer (Minn. Stat. § 609.487);
- Theft (Minn. Stat. § 609.52);
- Bringing Stolen Goods into the State (Minn. Stat. § 609.525);
- Identity Theft (Minn. Stat. § 609.527);
- Counterfeit/Stolen Check (Minn. Stat. § 609.528);
- Receiving Stolen Property (Minn. Stat. § 609.53);
- Embezzlement of Public Funds (Minn. Stat. § 609.54);
- Rustling and Livestock Theft (Minn. Stat. § 609.551);
- Arson in the First, Second, or Third Degree (Minn. Stat. § 609.561−.563);
- Burglary (Minn. Stat. § 609.582);
- Possession of Burglary Tools (Minn. Stat. § 609.59);
- Damage to Property (Minn. Stat. § 609.595);
- Insurance Fraud (Minn. Stat. § 609.611);
- Check Forgery (Minn. Stat. § 609.631);
- Drive by Shooting (Minn. Stat. § 609.66, subdivision 1e);
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Environmental Crimes (Minn. Stat. § 609.671, subdivisions 3, 4, 5, 8,
and 12); - Adulteration (Minn. Stat. § 609.687);
- Financial Transaction Card Fraud (Minn. Stat. § 609.821);
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Computer Damage; Theft (Minn. Stat. § 609.88;
609.89); - Telecommunications Fraud (Minn. Stat. § 609.893);
- Counterfeited Intellectual Property (Minn. Stat. § 609.895);
- Use of Minors in Sexual Performance (Minn. Stat. § 617.246; 617.247);
Or a gross misdemeanor or felony violation of:
- Driving While Impaired First, or Second Degree (Minn. Stat. § 169A.24−.25);
- Unauthorized Computer Access (Minn. Stat. § 609.891);
- Rifles/Shotguns in a Public Place (Minn. Stat. § 624.7181);
Or any violation of:
- Prostitution (Minn. Stat. § 609.324);
- Driving While Impaired (Minn. Stat. § 169A.20) if driver’s license has been canceled or subject to an alcohol restriction.
As for whether a $40,000 vehicle can be forfeited for a fifth-degree controlled substance offense, Minnesota would apply the Solem test. The Solem test provides factors to analyze whether an excessive fine has occurred, and this includes analysis for excessive forfeitures. These four factors include: (1) the gravity of the offense and the harshness of the penalty; (2) comparison to other Minnesota crimes; (3) comparison to other jurisdictions; and (4) the instrumentality or nexus test. On a related note, although Minnesota has already recognized this, the Supreme Court recently ruled that the excessive Fines Clause under the Eighth Amendment does apply to the states and applies equally to all fines, including forfeitures. Timbs v. Indiana, 138 S.Ct. 2650 (2018).