Police look to seize Ferrari

The Edwardsville Police Department could find itself in possession of a 2004 Ferrari convertible if a forfeiture case against the man they arrested for allegedly driving it drunk is successful.

The July 19 traffic stop resulted in both criminal and civil charges being filed against 31-year-old Wayne J. Lam, of Glen Carbon.

The three criminal charges are misdemeanors, for allegedly disobeying a traffic signal, squealing the tires and driving under the influence.

Lam, who lives in the first block of Shingle Oaks Drive, was pulled over by an Edwardsville police officer around 2:30 a.m. at South Main and Schwarz streets in Edwardsville. Lam, according to the traffic ticket, failed field sobriety tests and had glassy, bloodshot eyes, slurred speech and "a strong odor of alcohol emitting from his breath."

He refused to submit to a blood-alcohol test, according to the ticket.

Lam had prior DUI arrests in 2001 and 2003, according to court documents.

Five days after the arrest, Edwardsville Police Sgt. Matt Breihan filed a sworn statement in support of having the car forfeited. Judge Neil Schroeder found that probable cause existed to allow the forfeiture case to go forward.

The prosecution is being handled by the Madison County State's Attorney's office, which typically gets to keep 10 to 12 percent of the proceeds from forfeitures, with the rest going to the arresting agency. The State's Attorney's office has restrictions on how the proceeds can be spent. In previous years the money has been used to help local police agencies pay for in-car video systems and other equipment used to help apprehend and prosecute DUI offenders.

The web site ebaymotors.com lists 2004 Ferrari 360s for sale for $82,000 to well over $100,000, depending on mileage and other factors.

Lam has pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges. An Aug. 6 appearance date has been rescheduled for Aug. 14.