FORFEITURE ACT IGNORES RIGHTS, CIVIL LIBERTARIANS WARN

VICTORIA -- As the B.C. government gears up to use its new Civil
Forfeiture Act, the B.C. Civil Liberties Association is decrying the
legislation as an attack on the rights of British Columbians.

The law, which came into force April 20, enables the province to
seize property, goods or cash deemed by a civil-court judge to have
been gained illegally or used in the commission of an illegal act. If
seized, property such as cars, boats and houses can be liquidated,
with the proceeds going to the province.

Civil Liberties Association policy director Micheal Vonn said a
person's assets can now be seized without a single criminal or
provincial-statute charge being laid against the individual: "How
could this be anything other than an outrageous end run around a
person's Charter rights?"

Solicitor-General John Les was unavailable for comment. Civil
Forfeiture Branch deputy director Steve Ing said the office is
working on more than six cases under the new act but hasn't filed one
in court yet.