San Jose to stop 30-day car impounds for unlicensed drivers

San Jose Mercury News ^ | 12/08/2010 | Sean Webby

[moonshinner_09]

In a sudden U-turn after years of complaints, the San Jose police department is expected as early as next week to stop the impounding cars for a month when unlicensed drivers are nabbed for minor traffic violations.

Instead, officers will look for alternatives to towing a car, such as letting someone else pick up the car on the spot, when the stops don't involve allegations of drunken driving or other dangerous driving crimes.

While the proposal has raised concern among at least one city council member, immigrant advocates feel the 30-day vehicle holds unfairly target undocumented residents. Latino advocacy groups have long protested that the vehicle seizures depriveded working-class people of their cars -- which cost thousands of dollars in charges and fines to get back, often exceeding the worth of the car itself.

The new policy would give officers the options of allowing the driver to park the vehicle and have a licensed driver pick it up that day. If the car is towed, a licensed driver can pick it up almost immediately and pay applicable fees and fines, but without having to wait 30 days.

"I'm so happy. This won't help me any more, but it will help a lot of people," said Inma, whose Nissan Xterra was impounded earlier this year after her husband, an undocumented immigrant with no license, got a traffic citation on his way to work.

It took Inma, who declined to give her full name to protect her husband, a month and about $3,000 from savings

[maine yankee]

Arrest the driver.

If illegal, transport him to his home country IMMEDIATELY.

Car goes to pound.

The laws should not discriminate.

[Vendome]

Hey nOOb.

Why don’t you shove it up yer kilt.

You have a lot of nerve opening up with a line like that on this community.

You are definitely one of lifes losers who proudly wears the team colors boldly.

You are sanctioning the taking of someone else’s property by the government.

Maybe you picked the wrong board to sign up to?

You have the reading comprehension of a newborn.

Extant to my post was state sanctioned theft under Color of Authority.

I don’t feel bad for those who are here illegally but the government swipes the property of Americans more than they do illegal aliens.

That is just plain wrong and deprives them of due process and their property.

But hey, if you want to read whatever you want into my post feel free.

[HenpeckedCon]

“State sanctioned theft?” Driving a motor vehicle without a license is illegal and the penalty for said offense is having your uninspected/uninsured shit box confiscated for 30 days. How is that “state sanctioned theft?”