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Bill Could Reform Civil Forfeiture In Nevada

A new law would make law enforcement agencies report seized assets.

A bill before the Nevada Legislature would reform the way the state's law enforcement agencies handle civil forfeiture cases.

SB 138 mandates law enforcement agencies report all assets seized over the course of a year to the Attorney General.

Vanessa Spinazola, the legislative and advocacy director of the Nevada branch of the American Civil Liberties Union, thinks the bill is a good idea.

"I believe that it absolutely would increase public accountability," she told KNPR's State of Nevada.

Civil forfeiture issues have been in the spotlight in Nevada, with a recent case involving a man stopped in Humboldt County and having cash on his person seized during a traffic stop receiving widespread attention. The county later settled.

"We've kind of reached a tipping point, and people are pushing for reform, both here in Nevada and across the country," she said.

Vanessa Spinazola, legislative and advocacy director, ACLU of Nevada

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Casey Morell is the coordinating producer of Nevada Public Radio's flagship broadcast State of Nevada and one of the station's midday newscast announcers. (He's also been interviewed by Jimmy Fallon, whatever that's worth.)