THINK TANK BLASTS PROPERTY SEIZURES

MIDLAND, Mich., July 21 (UPI) A report by a conservative think tank
criticizes what it calls an "onslaught" of property seizures by the nation's
law enforcement agencies, mainly in drug investigations.

Citing horror stories from people whose cars, homes and savings were seized
by police and federal agents, the report urges drastic changes in state and
federal laws such as the 28-year-old Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt
Organizations Act (RICO) used to fight organized crime.

A liberal congressman is praising the report released today by the Mackinac
Center for Public Policy, which helps craft policy for the Republican Party.

Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich. the ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary
Committee says forfeiture laws "ensare...ordinary, law- abiding people" even
though they're "designed to give cops the right to confiscate and keep
luxury possessions of major drug dealers."

Conyers calls forfeiture laws "an abuse of power and a defect."

Although the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld forfeiture laws, the report says
seizing property during criminal investigations violates the legal standard
of "innocent until proven guilty."

The report's author Donald Kochan notes property seizures increased 1,500
percent between 1985 and '91, and says "the trend of increasing forfeiture
is likely to continue."

Among the anecdotes is the story of a woman whose husband was arrested for
soliciting a prostitute in Detroit. Police seized the man's car and refused
to return it to the wife, even though she was the half- owner and needed it
to take their children to school.

Another story came from an artist in Ann Arbor, Mich., who incorporated in
one of her paintings some bird feathers found on the ground in her back
yard. Federal agents seized the painting at an art show, claiming it
violated the 1918 Federal Migratory Bird Act.

Checked-by: Melodi Cornett