Pubdate: Sun, 14 Sep 2014 Source: Washington Post (DC) Copyright: 2014 The Washington Post Company Contact: http://mapinc.org/url/mUgeOPdZ Website: http://www.washingtonpost.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/491 Author: Lynn Streett Page: A20 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n736/a08.html GUILTY UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT The behavior described in the "Stop and seize" series [front page, Sept. 7-9] resembles an extortionist fishing expedition based on the "hunch" of police officers. These hunches (along with details that infringe on motorists' privacy) are then entered into a database with only loose oversight. These forfeitures upend a basic tenet of our judicial system: innocent until proven guilty. The government, which has vast resources, money and influence at its disposal, is charged with proving the guilt of those charged with crimes rather than asking an individual with considerably less power and resources to prove his innocence. One is left with the impression that local, state and federal agencies that pocket the seized money rely on the fact that few will pursue the issue. I hope that Congress and the public will make certain this practice is brought to an end. Lynn Streett, Springfield - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom