Pubdate: Wed, 01 Mar 2000
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2000 The New York Times Company
Contact:  229 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036
Fax: (212) 556-3622
Website: http://www.nytimes.com/
Forum: http://www10.nytimes.com/comment/
Author: James R. Maxeiner
Related: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v00/n287/a06.html

FORFEITURE UNFAIRNESS

To the Editor:

Shifting the burden of proof to the government will not make forfeiture law
fair if all the government has to prove is that the property figured in a
crime (editorial, Feb. 28). Unless ownership of the property is itself
unlawful, as with contraband or illegally acquired goods, taking property
without compensation is fair only if imposed as punishment for some
wrongdoing of the owner.

James R. Maxeiner, Murray Hill, N.J., Feb. 29, 2000
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jo-D