Libertarians: Boycott New York City until DWI car-seizure law is repealed? WASHINGTON, DC -- The Libertarian Party is suggesting a nationwide boycott of New York City until the city repeals a controversial new law which allows police to seize the cars of people arrested for -- but not convicted of -- drunk driving.
"Mayor Rudy Giuliani and the New York City government need to be taught a lesson: If you steal people's cars, you will be punished," said the party's national director, Steve Dasbach. "And the best way to punish them is to dry up the flow of tourist and business dollars into the city. "That's why we're encouraging every American who values civil liberties to boycott New York City until this government-sponsored car-stealing crime wave ends."
This week, Giuliani announced that under asset forfeiture laws, city police would start immediately seizing the cars of people arrested for suspicion of drunk driving. Even if that person is found not guilty of DWI in a court of law, the city may still keep the car by taking them to civil court, said Giuliani, where the standard of proof is lower. Such a civil proceeding could take "anywhere from days to years," said a police department spokesman.
The New York City Police Department has already begun setting up random checkpoints around the city, and seized four cars during the first day of the new program. It's those seizures -- and the "frightening power of the police to keep the property of people who have been found innocent of any crime" -- that makes New York City too risky to visit, said Dasbach.
"The Big Apple is in the grip of a crime wave, and the criminals are sitting in offices at City Hall," he said. "The fact is, the city is now too dangerous to visit. After all, what can you do when the police steal your car: Call 911 and report it to the police?"
