
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, July 20, 1990                   TAG: 9007200319
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By LAURENCE HAMMACK STAFF
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

DRUG ASSETS SEIZURE CHANGE PUSHED

In a statewide push Thursday, the newly formed Virginia Committee for Law Enforcement backed a proposed state constitutional amendment that would direct forfeited drug assets to local police departments.

The amendment, which voters will decide by referendum in November, would give localities more control over money and property seized from convicted drug dealers.

"Virginians have an opportunity when they vote this fall to make drug dealers help pay for the war on drugs," Henrico County Commonwealth's Attorney James Gilmore said at a news conference in Roanoke.

Gilmore, chairman of the non-partisan committee, also spoke at news conferences earlier Thursday in Virginia Beach and Richmond.

Under the current system, federal agents have authority to seize drug assets and can return them to the state locality where the arrest was made.

But the federal seizure program claims a 10 percent surcharge, Gilmore said, and even that method of collection might be threatened if the amendment does not pass.

Even though supporters of the measure expect little opposition, they formed the 40-member coalition of elected governmental and law-enforcement officials so that voters will be better informed about the issue, Gilmore said.

Although the committee was formed solely for the purpose of supporting the constitutional amendment, Gilmore said it may take up other law enforcement issues in the future.

If the amendment is approved, local commonwealth's attorneys most likely would be given the authority to seize money and property from convicted drug dealers through a civil process.

by CNB