Opinion ID: 1882296
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: post 1989 amendment

Text: The Spooner decision led to the 1989 amendment to Article I Section 4. The amendment deleted the words other than contraband from the last sentence of paragraph two, and added language so that paragraph three now reads as follows: Personal effects shall never be taken. But the following property may be forfeited and disposed of in a civil proceeding, as provided by law: contraband drugs; property derived in whole or in part from contraband drugs; property used in the distribution, transfer, sale, felony possession, manufacture, or transportation of contraband drugs; property used or intended to be used to facilitate any of the above conduct; or other property because the above described property has been rendered unavailable. This section shall not apply to appropriation of property necessary for levee or levee drainage purposes. Article I Section 4. This amendment was intended to overrule Spooner, which examined forfeiture laws in the context of criminal proceedings and placed a heavy onus on the state in proving that property should be forfeited. See State v. Lamb, 31-919, p.4 (La.App. 2nd Cir. 5/7/99), 732 So.2d 1270, 1273; State v. Clark, 94-598, p.7 (La.App. 3rd Cir. 2/21/96), 670 So.2d 493, 500. The amendment did this by allowing forfeiture of contraband drug property by means of a civil proceeding. Furthermore, the amendment suppressed the traditional rationale employed in Spooner, that the forfeiture of drug tainted property was disfavored and that the defendant in the forfeiture proceeding must receive the same due process considerations as in a criminal proceeding. In keeping with this intent, the legislature also passed new forfeiture provisions, La. R.S. 40:2601 et seq., setting forth less onerous burdens of proof directly in the statute and treating forfeitures as civil matters. The effect of the 1989 amendment is that there are now three classifications of proceedings for the permanent taking of property given constitutional status: criminal and quasi-criminal proceedings, which are governed by the first paragraph of Article I, Section 4; expropriation proceedings, which are governed by the second paragraph of Article I, Section 4; and the civil forfeiture of drug related property, which are governed by the third paragraph of Article I, Section 4.