FARMINGTON, N.M. — New Mexico law enforcement agencies say a new state law that prevents authorities from seizing assets from people unless they are convicted of a crime will devastate their budgets.
Several police departments say the civil forfeiture law that took effect this month will mean less money for training and equipment, reported the Daily Times in Farmington (http://bit.ly/1Te60Qn).
Most departments in New Mexico auction seized items and use the revenue to help with expenses. But under the new law, police cannot take a suspect’s property unless they prove a crime occurred.
Now, law enforcement agencies must store the items and then either ship them to the state Treasurer’s Office or auction them locally. But whatever method they chose, the proceeds will go to the state’s general fund.
Agencies won’t be compensated for the storage or shipment, either. Farmington Police Department Chief Steve Hebbe hasn’t calculated that cost yet but called it an unfunded mandate.
“We’re going to try not to seize,” he said.
The bill was sponsored by Ruidoso Republican Rep. Zach Cook and passed the House and Senate unanimously. Cook could nto be reached by phone Thursday.
Supporters say the law protects potentially innocent people from having their property taken.
Farmington Rep. Rod Montoya, also a Republican, supported the bill but said lawmakers weren’t aware of its negative impacts until late in the process.
Hebbe said no police chiefs were asked about how the bill would impact their departments.
“I don’t think that they anticipated how much it’s going to hit local law enforcement, and we’re still trying to figure out how bad it’s going to hit us,” he said.
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Information from: The Daily Times, http://www.daily-times.com
