The ACLU of Colorado has sent a letter to Gov. John Hickenlooper urging him to sign a bill that changes how officers and sheriff’s deputies seize money and property suspected of being tied to illegal activity, saying he should not “stand in the way of bipartisan reform.”
“Civil asset forfeiture reform passed the legislature by a combined vote of 81 to 19. It was supported by Republicans, Democrats, libertarians, progressives and just about everyone in between,” wrote Denise Maes, the group’s public policy director. “Coloradans want and deserve stronger protections when property is taken by police.”
Law enforcement and local government groups have asked Hickenlooper to veto the bill, saying it would mean hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost funds for crime-fighting. The governor is still weighing the legislation, his spokeswoman says, and has until Friday to decide whether to sign or veto the measure.
“Opponents argue that House Bill 1313 will make crime-fighting more difficult because if there are less forfeiture actions under federal law, local law enforcement agencies will get less money and, therefore, not be able to fight crime,” Maes said. “This position is untenable and frankly, I’m surprised this argument is asserted with such vigor.”
Supporters of the legislation say it would add accountability to civil asset forfeiture and better protect Coloradans’ rights to due process. Opponents say that while they support aspects of the bill that add oversight, a provision that prohibits local law enforcement from receiving forfeiture proceeds from the federal government in cases where property and money seized is less than $50,000 goes too far.
