Waterbuffalo
02-22-2008, 09:05 AM
Impound bill targets "johns"
By Jennifer Sullivan, Seattle Times staff reporter
A proposed state law that would allow police to impound the cars of people arrested on suspicion of patronizing prostitutes is being greeted favorably by law enforcement in Seattle.
"The positive thing about forfeiture is it would deter the guys who pick up street prostitutes," said City Attorney Tom Carr, whose office is studying the legislation.
State Rep. Al O'Brien, D-Mountlake Terrace, is sponsoring the bill, which would let authorities seize the vehicles of suspected "johns." Neither the House or Senate has voted on the measure yet.
The seized property, which could include cars, boats and aircraft, ultimately could be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to help law enforcement.
Cities and counties from Florida to Michigan, Connecticut to California, have similar vehicle-impound measures in place, though at least one has been ruled unconstitutional.
Last month a ruling by an appellate court in Miami that a seizure measure is unconstitutional may result in more than $12 million in refunds for people who had been arrested in that city.
Nationally, the American Civil Liberties Union has fought such measures on constitutional grounds. A spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington state said he was not aware of Washington's proposed measure.
For the rest of this article, please go here:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004189017_impound19m.html
By Jennifer Sullivan, Seattle Times staff reporter
A proposed state law that would allow police to impound the cars of people arrested on suspicion of patronizing prostitutes is being greeted favorably by law enforcement in Seattle.
"The positive thing about forfeiture is it would deter the guys who pick up street prostitutes," said City Attorney Tom Carr, whose office is studying the legislation.
State Rep. Al O'Brien, D-Mountlake Terrace, is sponsoring the bill, which would let authorities seize the vehicles of suspected "johns." Neither the House or Senate has voted on the measure yet.
The seized property, which could include cars, boats and aircraft, ultimately could be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to help law enforcement.
Cities and counties from Florida to Michigan, Connecticut to California, have similar vehicle-impound measures in place, though at least one has been ruled unconstitutional.
Last month a ruling by an appellate court in Miami that a seizure measure is unconstitutional may result in more than $12 million in refunds for people who had been arrested in that city.
Nationally, the American Civil Liberties Union has fought such measures on constitutional grounds. A spokesman for the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington state said he was not aware of Washington's proposed measure.
For the rest of this article, please go here:
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004189017_impound19m.html