Drunken Driving Campaign Challenged

The New York Civil Liberties Union officially challenged the city’s new campaign against drunken driving, filing a lawsuit against the Police Department’s practice of permanently seizing suspects’ cars. Police have seized 79 cars from 151 drivers since the policy took effect Feb. 21. The civil liberties group argues that the policy is unconstitutional and denies drivers due process by seizing their property before their cases are heard. The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, uses as its test case that of 28-year-old Pavel Grinberg, a library maintenance man in New York City.