WHAT:
News Conference

WHEN:
Thursday, April 22, 2004 at 1:00 p.m.

WHERE:
Ross Baker Towing
8750 Vanalden Avenue
Northridge, CA

WHO:
Los Angeles Police Deputy Chief Ronald W. Bergmann
Operations-Valley Bureau
Commander Valentino P. Paniccia
Operations-Valley Bureau, and
Captain Joseph Curreri
Devonshire Area Commanding Officer

Los Angeles: The Los Angeles Police Department’s Devonshire Area Drug Unit conducted a Drug Sting Operation. This sting operation focused on the seizure of vehicles' pursuant to the newly enacted Los Angeles Municipal Code Section 41.70, which provides for the seizure and forfeiture of vehicles used by people who solicit or attempt to solicit an act of prostitution, street racing, narcotic soliciting and/or illegal dumping. This law became effective February 9, 2003, and has been successful in these acts of solicitation.

Seizing the vehicles of those who solicit narcotics is a problem-solving tool that has been used and proven to be effective in Northern California cities. This new law will dramatically improve the quality of life, and help combat crime which brings blight and disorder into neighborhoods throughout the city.

This news advisory was prepared by Public Information Officer Esther Mya Pe, Media Relations Section, at 213-485-3586.