NOT RISKING CAR

I WON'T be visiting Oakland any time soon, due to your outrageous car
seizure law. That the state Supreme Court turned away the ACLU challenge
doesn't make this excess in law enforcement justifiable. I recognize the
need to enforce the laws against drug dealing and prostitution. However,
Oakland has gone too far.

The city and county of San Francisco had the vision to reject Oakland's
ill-advised solution. Still, other cities may follow Oakland anyway for the
revenue.

I could conceivably be driving in your city and stop to ask for directions.
An unscrupulous or rookie police officer could simply consider me
suspicious and seize my car. I find this most troubling and outrageous.

Your ordinance should have limits to protect innocent drivers and car
owners as specified in California state law and federal law.

Will you make the effort to amend the unfairness out of your ordinance?
Otherwise, I'll be staying far away from Oakland. I'll go to the ball games
at Pac Bell Park and not put my car at risk.

Frank J. De Smidt, Milpitas