The State - News from July 29, 1988

Law enforcement authorities in San Francisco are considering seizing and selling vehicles used in suspected drug transactions, even when the owner has been cleared of criminal charges. The U.S. attorney’s office, the San Francisco district attorney and the police have been discussing the plan for several months, but no date has been set for putting it into effect, officials said. Officers spotting what appears to be a drug sale conducted from a car would seize the vehicle and make the arrest, even if only a small quantity of drugs was found. The district attorney’s office would sue in federal court to seize the vehicle. If prosecutors could show probable cause to believe it was used by a dealer, federal law would allow them to auction off the car, even if they were unable to convict the alleged dealer. Civil liberties groups oppose the plan.