SAN FRANCISCO SUPERVISORS VOTE DOWN CAR SEIZURE PROPOSAL

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- An ordinance that would have made it legal for police
to seize cars from people arrested for drug offenses, regardless of whether
they are convicted of a crime, was rejected by city supervisors Monday night.

Supervisors voted six to three against the plan, saying that it would
violate due process and place an undue burden on the poor and minorities.

Critics cautioned that such a law could violate people's civil rights. Car
seizures would be handled as civil procedures rather than criminal, meaning
defendants would not receive court-appointed legal counsel. Those who could
not afford an attorney would then be at a legal disadvantage.

Police say drug crimes have risen in San Francisco, in part because
criminals are now afraid of having their cars seized in Oakland.

The plan, which was proposed by Supervisor Amos Brown, was modeled after a
similar law in Oakland that allows the civil forfeiture of vehicles used in
soliciting prostitution or buying illegal drugs.

Oakland officials and police say the law has been successful in reducing
such crimes in troubled neighborhoods. The law has been upheld by two
courts and is now under appeal in the California Supreme Court.