Which, in this case, would likely cost them $10,000+ for the return of a $2500 car.
This is why the law forbidding the practice needs to have teeth. Say, perhaps, 10% of the value of the property for each and every day that the property has not been returned to the owners.
Just to make it interesting, make it compound.
Still wouldn't matter. The bottom line is, the cops have impounded the car for evidence. They haven't "seized" it, per se, just yet - it's just evidence. The asset forfeiture law wouldn't even come into play in this case, as the vehicle has not been "forfeited". It's just evidence. These folks can scream and kick all they want about the asset forfeiture law, but it does not apply in this particular case.
In essence, the lesson to be learned is that new laws are not going to fix the problem. The problem is beyond laws.