Alberta police can now seize and auction off vehicles of men found guilty of trying to pick up prostitutes.

Changes to the Traffic Safety Act, which came into effect Monday, are being called a new weapon to fight prostitution by police.

Edmonton police Insp. Brian Nowlan is confident the threat of permanently losing a vehicle will work.

"Johns are going to run the risk of losing their vehicle," he said. "Not just having it seized and impounded temporarily."

Officers can seize a vehicle when the person has been charged with soliciting street prostitutes.

If the person is found guilty in court, they can only have their vehicle returned if they can prove financial hardship or if they agree to participate in alternative measures programs.

Otherwise, it will be auctioned off, with the money going to the province.

One alternative measures program is "john school" — a one-day session where johns hear from ex-prostitutes and learn how prostitution tears families and neighbourhoods apart.

Civil liberties group disapproves

Municipal politicians, community groups and prostitution activists have all come out in support of the new law.

However, Alberta Civil Liberties Association President Stephen Jenuth said the change gives too much power to police.

"It's a matter that tends to be a random application of the law depending not on a fair hearing, but on the feelings of a particular police officer on a particular day," he said.

Move follows other prairie provinces

Manitoba began seizing cars in 1999 and Saskatchewan followed in 2002.

Manitoba has seized 418 autos; Saskatchewan, 400. Most of them were eventually returned.

Dianna Bussey, director of Salvation Army Corrections in Winnipeg, said having to explain the missing vehicle seemed to galvanize men's attitudes and led to some signing up for the course within hours.

"It brought home the seriousness of it," said Bussey, who counsels prostitutes and leads johns through the course.

Bill Thibodeau, who counsels prostitutes in Saskatoon, said the new law has made a dent.

"It has slowed down some of the john traffic. Has it eliminated it? No," said Thibodeau, the executive director of EGADZ Youth Centre.

He says some men now appear to be going instead to escort services or arranging trysts outside the stroll area.

With files from the Canadian Press