One senator called it a "slush fund," albeit a good one. Another worried about whether law enforcement decisions would be influenced by the profit motive.

But the North Dakota Senate on Monday endorsed legislation to allow the Highway Patrol to keep up to $300,000 every two years from arrests its troopers make that result in seizures of cash or property.

State law already allows authorities to seize assets that they believe are connected to drug dealing, including money, property, vehicles, boats and other possessions. Cash and money from the sale of assets seized by the Highway Patrol go into the state's general treasury.

The bill would allow the patrol to benefit directly from seizures and would authorize the agency to spend the money on overtime and equipment, or use it as matching funds for outside grants. Senators approved it 27-20 on Monday, sending the bill to Gov. John Hoeven's desk.

It "looks a little like it creates a Highway Patrol slush fund, and that's because that's what it does," said Sen. Tracy Potter, D-Bismarck. "But it's not necessarily a bad thing."

Some Highway Patrol traffic stops end up nabbing drug couriers, who are often carrying large amounts of cash, Potter said. Their vehicle may also be seized and sold.

"An ordinary Highway Patrol stop … can turn into a fairly large bust," Potter said. "If there are guns associated, or cars, or cash, that money can end up in the general fund."

Sen. Bob Stenehjem, R-Bismarck, the Senate majority leader, said he had reservations about the proposal. The Legislature already provides money for the Highway Patrol's operations, Stenehjem said.

"Is the purpose of any agency to go out there and try to make money from enforcing the laws?" Stenehjem said. "We fund the Highway Patrol and our other law enforcement agencies, and that's where their funding should come from, not from these seizures."

The bill is HB1064.