LAPD limits impounding of unlicensed drivers' cars

[thegente]

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/mar/12/local/la-me-lapd-tow-20110312

LAPD limits impounding of unlicensed drivers' cars

Previous policy for sobriety checkpoints had been criticized by immigration advocacy groups.

March 12, 2011|By Joel Rubin and Ari Bloomekatz, Los Angeles TimesUnder criticism that it was unfairly targeting undocumented immigrants, the Los Angeles Police Department on Friday announced changes to its rules for impounding cars of unlicensed drivers at sobriety checkpoints.

Previously, LAPD officers at such checkpoints followed stringent protocols that called for them to impound a car whenever the driver was found not to have a valid license, regardless of whether the driver had been drinking.

Those rules have drawn the ire of immigration advocacy groups that said they disproportionately targeted undocumented immigrants, who are not able to obtain licenses legally in nearly all U.S. states. Once a vehicle is impounded, law enforcement agencies often require it to remain locked up for at least a month and charge the owner hefty fees to release it.

The new LAPD guidelines soften the department's stance somewhat. Police will be required to make an attempt to contact the registered owner of the stopped vehicle. If the owner is a licensed driver and can respond to the checkpoint in "a reasonable period of time," the officers will release the car to him or her. If the owner is unlicensed, officers will permit another person who is a licensed driver to take the car.

If no one with a license is available, police will impound a vehicle. In any case, police will issue a citation to the unlicensed driver.

Police Chief Charlie Beck said that since he took over the department more than a year ago, the checkpoint policy had "stuck in my craw as one of the things we weren't doing the right way." Beck said he decided to make the change after immigration rights advocates raised the issue with him anew in meetings this week.

"I'm tired of casting the net so wide," he said. "This is the right thing to do. There is a fairness issue here … and we're trying to balance the needs of all segments of our community and keep the roads safe."

The new rules, Beck said, were an attempt to mitigate somewhat "the current reality, which is that for a vast number of people, who are a valuable asset to our community and who have very limited resources, their ability to live and work in L.A. is severely limited by their immigration status."

The change, which the department announced in a news release late Friday afternoon, is likely to anger groups that support strict enforcement of immigration laws. Efforts to contact representatives of several of those groups for comment were unsuccessful.

The issue of impounds has become a controversial topic in recent years. Police in the small cities of Bell and Maywood have been accused of systematically targeting undocumented immigrants when impounding cars in an effort to boost municipal revenues.

Ron Gochez, a member of the steering committee for the Southern California Immigration Coalition, expressed limited praise for the LAPD's change but questioned why the department needed to impound a car if the driver had not been drinking.

"It's a step in the right direction, but it still falls short of what we're asking for," he said. "We're not against checkpoints. We want checkpoints to happen, we want drunk drivers off our streets. We just don't want people to be losing their cars who aren't drunk."

[Patriotic_mess]

The way we bend over backwords to makes things convienent for people in this country ILLEGALLY disgusts me, with the free healthcare and foodstamps they live a better life than honest citizens.

[DiveDeepSix]

Imagine that! Wouldn't want to upset the illegals so they stopped voting for the illegal! Take their cars, auction them off, use the money to donate to the wounded warrior program, problem solved!

The way we bend over backwords to makes things convienent for people in this country ILLEGALLY disgusts me, with the free healthcare and foodstamps they live a better life than honest citizens.

By far, and it's to the point now where it's a blatant single finger salute to the American tax payers!

[BruceV]

How stupid!! Roll out the Welcome Map why don't ya

[SgtFuryUSCZ]

***///

The new rules, Beck said, were an attempt to mitigate somewhat "the current reality, which is that for a vast number of people, who are a valuable asset to our community and who have very limited resources, their ability to live and work in L.A. is severely limited by their immigration status.",

***///--So THAT means THEY get preferential treatment ?

The change, which the department announced in a news release late Friday afternoon, is likely to anger groups that support strict enforcement of immigration laws. Efforts to contact representatives of several of those groups for comment were unsuccessful.

***///--And you see THIS as a problem BECAUSE....? Laws SHOULD be enforced, that's why they are LAWS ! Don't be a butt-nutt!

The issue of impounds has become a controversial topic in recent years. Police in the small cities of Bell and Maywood have been accused of systematically targeting undocumented immigrants when impounding cars in an effort to boost municipal revenues.

***///--Gee, THAT sounds logical... target those who are poorest, can least afford it... Now THAT's what I call an excellent source of revenue -- NOT!

You can't be serious, you tree-huggin', toad-licking, liberal, koom-ba-yain' , sidewalk-occupyin', obummer-lovin' , kook bags!

Ron Gochez, a member of the steering committee for the Southern California Immigration Coalition, expressed limited praise for the LAPD's change but questioned why the department needed to impound a car if the driver had not been drinking.

***///---BECAUSE HE's drivin' illegally without a license and insurance --- you NIMROD.!

"It's a step in the right direction, but it still falls short of what we're asking for," he said. "We're not against checkpoints. We want checkpoints to happen, we want drunk drivers off our streets. We just don't want people to be losing their cars who aren't drunk."

***///-- AGAIN, GOCHEZ: NO LICENSE - NO INSURANCE - and probably no registration, either.... and probably a stolen tag....

[emmet]

What everyone seems to forget in the thread is these kind of stops are totally unlawful. An American has the right (different from a privilege) to travel the common ways unmolested. As long as the party is in complete control of his piece and not in commerce and not harming anyone in his movements the only lawful way to stop him is if the officer sees the traveler commit a crime.

What everyone seems to forget in the thread is these kind of stops are totally unlawful. An American has the right (different from a privilege) to travel the common ways unmolested. As long as the party is in complete control of his piece and not in commerce and not harming anyone in his movements the only lawful way to stop him is if the officer sees traveler commit a crime.

[OBE]

I'm glad the change was made. Members from my church have paid thousands and thousands of dollars getting vehicles out of impound. They ALL have INSURANCE and REGISTERED vehicles. Just no license. None in my church take state or federal help. They work hard everyday. Most own their own businesses taking advantage of the opportunity most "Americans" have fallen asleep to. So easy to paint them all with the same brush.

[KiaKaha]

Sickens me that they bend over for CRIMINALS. Undocumented worker my eye... ILLEGAL ALIEN is the truth. Get your papers & be here legally. If they pulled me over, being as I'm white, would they let me off the same way? Of course not! They ought to deport their sorry butts when they catch 'em instead of cite & release! Why do we HAVE immigration laws if we aren't going to enforce them?

*rant off*

KK

[40oz]

What everyone seems to forget in the thread is these kind of stops are totally unlawful. An American has the right (different from a privilege) to travel the common ways unmolested. As long as the party is in complete control of his piece and not in commerce and not harming anyone in his movements the only lawful way to stop him is if the officer sees traveler commit a crime.

I couldn't have said it better myself. Sobriety checkpoints are a shakedown.

[sportfisher]

The way we bend over backwords to makes things convienent for people in this country ILLEGALLY disgusts me, with the free healthcare and foodstamps they live a better life than honest citizens.

even the President.

[Luigi1]

Now...now...We must be PC. No mention about the millions of Americans driving around with no driver's license or no auto insurance.

[brbrlocke]

The way we bend over backwords to makes things convienent for people in this country ILLEGALLY disgusts me, with the free healthcare and foodstamps they live a better life than honest citizens.

You and me both. The rights of people here in this country illegally are WAY out of hand. There's a big stink going on over in Dallas (and I'm sure other places too) where landlords that do not want to rent to illegals are getting in trouble. That's just BULL. I was born and raised in this country and I can't get crap from the government. I can't even get a tax refund every year with out saving every little receipt I can to prove that I deserve it. Something is just WAY wrong with this picture. This makes me put on my mean face.

[lakeliving]

I'm glad the change was made. Members from my church have paid thousands and thousands of dollars getting vehicles out of impound. They ALL have INSURANCE and REGISTERED vehicles. Just no license. None in my church take state or federal help. They work hard everyday. Most own their own businesses taking advantage of the opportunity most "Americans" have fallen asleep to. So easy to paint them all with the same brush.

If they're illegal then they're not paying into to system. My tax money pays for more than food stamps...it pays for schools, roads, hospitals and much more. Last I checked they used all those things! Secondly, they're taking jobs away from people that would be paying into the system by offering lower rates. How is any of that right?

[OBE]

You assume they don't pay taxes. They DO. They have itin #'s.