Lawmakers sue Albuquerque over forfeiture practices
The New Mexico Legislature unanimously approved a bill this year that outlawed civil forfeiture — or so lawmakers thought.
Santa Fe and other municipalities that have ordinances allowing them to seize and forfeit property that officers believe is associated with a crime say the amendments to the state’s forfeiture laws don’t apply to them and haven’t changed their practices.
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle who lobbied successfully for the reforms in the heated closing days of the session that ended in March insist the language couldn’t be more clear. It states that the purpose of the law is to “ensure that only criminal forfeiture is allowed in this state.” In other words, the state can only take your property if you are convicted, not before.
Last week, two Albuquerque senators, Daniel Ivey-Soto, a Democrat, and Lisa Torraco, a Republican, filed a lawsuit against the city over its vehicle seizure program.
Read more: http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/lawmakers-sue-albuquerque-over-forfeiture-practices/article_9c1b5baa-ce9c-54cb-8f7d-218793236e93.html