January 22, 1999

New York City Police Comr Howard Safir announces that, starting next month, cars of people arrested on drunken driving charges in city will be seized on spot and later forfeited if drivers are convicted; officials say state law currently allows forfeiture of vehicles owned by repeat offenders, but it is rarely enforced; critics warn that with forfeiture practices coming under increasing scrutiny because of abuses by law enforcement agencies, any attempt to expand forfeiture is likely to face tough legal challenges (M)

Harvey Araton, in Sports of The Times, comments on opening of New York Knicks' and New Jersey Nets' training camps; photo of Jayson Williams of Nets (M)

Drunken Drivers to Lose Cars Under a new plan, the cars of people arrested on drunken driving charges in New York City will be seized on the spot and forfeited after a conviction, Police Commissioner Howard Safir said. Page B1.

Raul Salinas de Gortari, brother of Mexico's former president, is convicted of ordering 1994 assassination of leading politician, Jose Francisco Ruiz Massieu, and is sentenced to fifty years in prison; photo; judge's stunning verdict, after tangled four-year trial, is considerd most important ever in Mexico, as first time that close relative of powerful figure has been prosecuted for serious crime; missteps, coercion and manipulation also exposed judicial system's disarray; Salinas was condemned mainly by hearsay evidence; case exposed bizarre enmities and intrigues inside establishment, and destroyed image of former Pres Carlos Salinas; prosecutors also charged victim was betrayed by his own brother, Mario Ruiz Massieu, who was first prosecutor to investigate killing; he is accused of torturing witnesses and suppressing evidence to conceal Raul Salinas' role in plot; actual killer, Daniel Aguilar Trevino, was captured at scene in Mexico City and, under torture, named accomplices who are all now in jail; Mario Ruiz Massieu fled to US to avoid prosecution under current President, Ernesto Zedillo, and he remains under house arrest in New Jersey pending appeal of deportation order (M)

Drugs and crime bond foursome. Seedy.