I can't say that I've never been searched, but it's not an everyday thing either. OP lives on the South Side of Chicago. It is a high crime area similar to my area. THe cops know who's doing what pretty much by my house. Not to judge your character, because you do seem like an ok guy. Do you tend to hang out in those areas where cops are constantly clearing corners? I've said many times I know your area pretty well. Chick I know stays a block over from the fire dept. I've never been stopped or harrassed by the cops in the many times I've been through there. You must have a rep unfortunately. I don't let anyone that I don't trust ride with me because shit like this can happen.
And I surely don't do this either But that's neither here nor there.
To answer your question, I would not be trying to get money back when you were clearly in the wrong. I just don't see any way that you can expct to get money back from this. Just pay the fines and febreeze your car. You can't win this one. If the weed was not involved, you could fight that one.