CARS SEIZED UNDER LAW CITY HAS LICENSE TO TAKE VEHICLES USED IN CRIMES, THEN KEEP OR SELL THEM.Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer LANCASTER - Lancaster has confiscated con·fis·cate tr.v. con·fis·cat·ed, con·fis·cat·ing, con·fis·cates 1. To seize (private property) for the public treasury. 2. To seize by or as if by authority. See Synonyms at appropriate. adj. a compact SUV Compact SUV is a class of small sport utility vehicles with a length roughly between 4.25 and 4.60 m (170-185 in). This class should not be confused with mini SUV, which refers to smaller vehicles. and a minivan, the first vehicles seized under a new city law that provides for the seizure and forfeiture The involuntary relinquishment of money or property without compensation as a consequence of a breach or nonperformance of some legal obligation or the commission of a crime. The loss of a corporate charter or franchise as a result of illegality, malfeasance, or Nonfeasance. of vehicles used in the commission of crimes. A Toyota RAV4 was seized from a suspected pimp, and a Ford Windstar The Ford Windstar was a minivan produced and sold by the Ford Motor Company from March 1994 (for the 1995 model year) to 2003. The new front-wheel drive minivan would eventually replace Ford's aging rear-wheel drive Aerostar minivan. van was taken from a man accused of selling pirated DVDs and CDs, a prosecutor said. ``In the case of prostitution, it's a crime that is generally a misdemeanor, the penalty for which is a limited amount of time in custody and a fine. Most people generally regard that as a cost of doing business,'' said Deputy District Attorney David Berger David Berger may refer to:
``There's a far greater effect when customers realize they won't just end up with a fine and community service, but also will have to explain to their wives why the family car is not in the driveway,'' Berger said. The vehicle forfeiture law, which was passed by the City Council in August and took effect in October, covers crimes involving drugs, prostitution and carrying illegal weapons. The City Council will consider a proposal at its Jan. 13 meeting to expand the law to include vehicles used for illegal dumping, Berger said. The city can either keep the impounded RAV4 and van or sell them, Berger said. The law is similar to one in effect in Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . Officials there can seize vehicles used in prostitution and street racing, and proposed in October broadening the law to apply to the vehicles of pimps, drug dealers and illegal dumpers. The RAV4 was seized and its owner, 40-year-old Terrance Thomas of Lancaster, was arrested Dec. 8. Thomas is charged with misdemeanors of loitering Loitering (IPA pronunciation: ['lɔɪtəˌrɪŋ] is an intransitive verb meaning to stand idly, to stop numerous times, or to delay and procrastinate. to commit prostitution and aiding prostitution, Berger said. ``He was observed by deputies from the Target Oriented Policing team with a known prostitute,'' Berger said. ``Further investigation revealed he was assisting her in her endeavors.'' Thomas is scheduled to be arraigned Jan. 21. He is free on $5,000 bail. The Windstar van was seized Dec. 15 from Cary Calvin, 41, of Lancaster. An anonymous tip led to the arrest of Calvin and the seizure of nearly 2,000 pirated DVDs and CDs he was selling out of the back of the van, deputies said. Investigators also found marijuana, a scale and plastic baggies, Berger said. ``The vehicle was seized pursuant to Lancaster's nuisance vehicle statute,'' Berger said. Calvin has pleaded not guilty to possession of marijuana for sale and to possession for sale of illegal DVDs, Berger said. Calvin, who was on probation for DVD DVD: see digital versatile disc. DVD in full digital video disc or digital versatile disc Type of optical disc. The DVD represents the second generation of compact-disc (CD) technology. piracy, was selling movies including recent theatrical releases ``Honey,'' ``Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat'' and ``Elf,'' as well as homemade home·made adj. 1. Made or prepared in the home: homemade pie. 2. Made by oneself. 3. Crudely or simply made. Adj. 1. copies of films already out on commercial DVDs, deputies said. Karen Maeshiro, (661) 267-5744 karen.maeshiro(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) Deputy District Attorney David Berger shows a Toyota RAV4 and Ford Windstar recently seized from crime suspects. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer |
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