Cannabis News The November Coalition
   Smoke a Joint, Lose Your Car Under Planned Law
Posted by FoM on October 12, 1999 at 20:10:38 PT
By Scott Maxwell of The Sentinel Staff 
Source: Orlando Sentinel 

cannabis Get caught with drugs in Orange County and you could lose your car -- until you pony up the cash to get it back.
Impounding vehicles may be the toughest measure in a new strategy by state and county authorities who aim to clamp down on drugs.


Other efforts unveiled Tuesday involve seeking help from criminologists and better rehabilitation for drug users, but county officials hope impounding vehicles will send the strongest message.

"That's going to make them stop and think," Tom Hurlbert, the county's public safety director, said of the impounding -- and the $500 fee that would accompany it.

County staffers still are working out the details on the law, which commissioners should vote on before the end of the year.

But Bob Spivey, the assistant director of public safety, said the policy likely will mirror measures in place in Florida cities such as Tampa and Clearwater.

Though $500 would be required to get cars back, Spivey said there will be an appeals process.

That's important because laws that apply penalties before convictions have raised civil-rights debates in other parts of the country.

Current law allows officers to seize cars only in connection with felony drug arrests -- and when they can prove that the car was used to commit the crime.

The new law would allow officers temporarily to take the car from anyone committing even a misdemeanor, such as smoking a single marijuana joint.
Beyond drug crimes, cars also would likely be impounded if owners are involved in prostitution crimes. "The two go hand in hand," Spivey said.

The new law may be just one of several from Chairman Mel Martinez's new drug office -- an office that local officials say is the only one of its kind in Florida.

Martinez created the office to fight the county's standing as a drug haven, most notably because of more than 80 deaths from heroin overdoses last year.

Other efforts could include annual report cards on the county's progress and efforts to replace jail with rehabilitation for repeat offenders.

But before the county gets too far along with its anti-drug efforts, Sheriff Kevin Beary said he wants to make sure the county doesn't waste any of the $1.4 million in grant money it will receive from the state over the next three years.

So as his initial contribution to the effort, Beary has decided to spend $10,000 to pay for a study by three criminologists at the University of Central Florida. The study will track drug dealers and users to see what worked -- and what didn't -- in rehabilitating them.

"I'm sure there are those who will say we don't need to study the problem, but it is obvious the system isn't working," Beary said.

"We are producing a generation of repeat offenders with little or no hope of recovery. And pouring millions more into a system that does not work and expecting a good result is not good public policy," he said.

Published in The Orlando Sentinel on October 13, 1999

Forfeiture Endangers Americans Rights:
http://www.fear.org/

Related Articles:

Reform Drug Asset Seizure - 8/04/99
http://www.cannabisnews.com/news/thread2355.shtml


Home    Comment    Email    Register    Recent Comments    Help

 
Comment #3 posted by paul on September 18, 2000 at 09:03:59 PT:

idiots all
Do any of these anti marijuana clones have a drink of alcohol after work? Sure they do! Hippocrits, egotists, idiots all. :-)

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #2 posted by military officer guy on October 12, 1999 at 21:11:34 PT
prostitution and drugs, hand and hand, ok?
Beyond drug crimes, cars also would likely be impounded if owners are involved in prostitution crimes. "The two go hand in hand," Spivey said.

that's just too much...what is this world coming to...

[ Post Comment ]
 
Comment #1 posted by military officer guy on October 12, 1999 at 21:11:29 PT
prostitution and drugs, hand and hand, ok?
Beyond drug crimes, cars also would likely be impounded if owners are involved in prostitution crimes. "The two go hand in hand," Spivey said.

that's just too much...what is this world coming to...

[ Post Comment ]

  Post Comment

Name:       Optional Password:
E-Mail:

Subject:

Comment:   [Please refrain from using profanity in your message]

Link URL:
Link Title:


Return to Main Menu


So everyone may enjoy this service and to keep it running, here are some guidelines: NO spamming, NO commercial advertising, NO flamming, NO illegal activity, and NO sexually explicit materials. Lastly, we reserve the right to remove any message for any reason!

This web page and related elements are for informative purposes only and thus the use of any of this information is at your risk! We do not own nor are responsible for visitor comments. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 and The Berne Convention on Literary and Artistic Works, Article 10, news clippings on this site are made available without profit for research and educational purposes. Any trademarks, trade names, service marks, or service names used on this site are the property of their respective owners. Page updated on October 12, 1999 at 20:10:38