Re: June 14 news story.
Much has been written about Colorado , the law passed by a wide bipartisan majority in the legislature this year to rein in civil asset forfeiture. However, a few simple but important facts are easily missed.
First, HB 1313 only affects assets seized that have a net value of under $50,000. Other seizures will be subject to more transparency, but will otherwise be largely unaffected. Second, civil asset forfeiture was never intended to be a fundraising tool. When law enforcement claims that certain functions will be jeopardized by reform, they present an illogical and untenable argument.
Local law enforcement agencies should not budget expecting forfeiture proceeds. This underscores a central problem with asset forfeiture, which is that it has become, in many ways, a policing-for-profit scheme. Hunger is not an excuse to steal bread. Why would budget shortfalls be an excuse for law enforcement to deny due process when they take property?
Denise Maes, Denver
The writer is public policy director for the ACLU of Colorado.
Submit a letter to the editor via or check out our for how to submit by e-mail or mail.
