L.A. reins in impounding

This is some good news for people who drive around L.A. without licenses (the question is whether it's bad news for people who actually have licenses). The Times' Richard Winton reports that the LAPD has imposed a moratorium on impounding the vehicles of unlicensed drivers amid concerns that the practice may be unconstitutional:

But many other agencies -- including the L.A. County Sheriff's Department and California Highway Patrol -- continue to impound cars of unlicensed drivers, with some counties concluding that the appeals court ruling does not apply to them. In a memo to all the LAPD's commanding officers, Assistant Chief Earl Paysinger directed that officers no longer impound vehicles in stops when the only offense was driving without a license. Drivers will continue to be cited for driving without a license. But the vehicle will be impounded only when it cannot be driven away by a licensed driver or parked legally and secured.

Comments

[Mark from LA]

Shoot low, I missed the part in my post about "illegals". I used the terms "they" and "them" as I intended to make the point generically about the way the harshness of penalties is filtered by the perceived applicability to the observer.
Also I guess I'm just dense - is it only "illegals" that the law covers? And here I though that laws were applied to all (or at least given the appearance that they do).
Just for the record, wrong kind of engineer - I'm the kind they pay to sit in front of a computer and think - while it's not as exciting as making trains run, its a living.

[S]

Shelby Grad,

Why was my last post not approved/displayed? Your approved selections appear to expose a general bias in this discussion.

You may respond to the e-mail address provided.

Regards,
Sal

[yours truly, Johnny Dollar]

And Oklahoma actively uses the electric chair; there are still a few states that get it right. Weenies are still a silent minority in Oklahoma.

[Gringo the Lilacs]

Norma Jean, how do I offend a criminal? I have no problem offending law breakers...if I only knew how.

[Shoot low; she's riding a Shetland.]

"Engineer" Mark from LA, your train has left the station (without you).

[Shoot low; she's riding a Shetland.]

Mark from LA, "impounding cars of illegals" creating a problem for illegals's
employment; if they are illegal, then they are working illegally. If you don't like it, change the law; until then......

[Lulu Skates]

Thank you Los Angeles and all of the other sanctuary cities.
All of the illegal aliens in Oklahoma are packing up and moving out.
The last estimate was 5000 have left since our governor signed Bill 1804. Which becomes law November 1st.
I have heard rumblings from Arkansas that they are moving across the border but I suspect many of them will be coming your way!

[norma jean]

Okay this is riduculous. Anyway didnt the case they are basing their decision on state that it had to be "a legally parked car?" if they are driving it they are obviously not parked.

on the other hand...
"No Greenbacks for Wetbacks (Wetback is an English word found on page 1022 of Webster's Desk Dictionary of the English Language 1983: "Wetback: n. a Mexican laborer who enters the U. S. illegally."
If you're offended, change the English language; or be like a Wetback, who ignores our laws.

just because a word is in the dictionary does not mean it is ok to use it. I know plenty of words that are in the dictionary that would offend most of the population...

[Mark from LA]

Why is it proper to impound (and possibly sell) a car as the penalty for driving without a license?
On the surface the law sounds great - penalties that strict will certainly keep them (whoever they are) from breaking the very important law (as long as they do not become us).
Why is it that the people least affected by a given law agree with draconian penalties for breaking that law?

The effects of impounding a car is not just the impound fees etc. It is also the possible loss of employment for however many people depend on the car for transportation.
Does anyone out there think that the majority of potential targets of this law are so bad they undeserving of their livelihood?
In anticipation of the "they can always take public transportation" rebuttal I ask that you remember that we live in LA.
If the public transportation we have met the needs of the people using cars there wouldn't be so many cars.

It's a sorry thing that many people can't seem to identify with the targets of laws with draconian penalties and laws that simply should not exist.
These are the same people who vote for politicians who pass these laws so they can look like they are accomplishing something when they are not.
I am an engineer by trade and if I did my job with this type of sloppy reasoning - creating action without results at great cost, I would be rightfully fired. Fortunately for me I don't.

[yours truly, Johnny Dollar]

And the cries that these illegals are being treated as a Second Class Citizen...
Citizen? They are not that, second class or otherwise.

[Gringo the Lilacs]

I'm awaiting the sequel "A Decade without a Mexican."
Then, these underground companies, hotels, restaurants, construction firms, rent-a-nanny, etc. etc. etc. will have to either go out of business (no problem there) or hire legal workers who have social security numbers, pay taxes, and speak English (they can speak other languages; but, one of those languages must be English.) No Greenbacks for Wetbacks (Wetback is an English word found on page 1022 of Webster's Desk Dictionary of the English Language 1983: "Wetback: n. a Mexican laborer who enters the U. S. illegally."
If you're offended, change the English language; or be like a Wetback, who ignores our laws.

[Ben]

Dumb question - if you have a license, but say, forget it at home that day, will they cite you? (and formerly, impound your car?)

[Eli Goldberg]

Constitution protects the citizens...not illegals.

[buz algood]

So the mesage is what? A driver's license is optional? OK, just so we all play by the same rules. I guess I can stop paying for auto insurance also since Rocky Delgadillo seems to consider it optional as well.

[jill]

Jose Huizar is pandering to illegals again. He may have been born in Mexico, but he is a U S City Councilman, and should think of the public good and public safety. Since most of those driving without a license are illegals, it seems clear why he is telling the police not to enforce the law. Since when is driving without a license "constitutionally protected?" OUTRAGEOUS.

And of course Rocky's office would favor this, since his wife was driving city cars without a license or insurance, and he's have really been embarrassed if he had to explain why his car was impounded.

[Wilhelm]

Since we dont' know what Gil Cedillo's real political agenda is, we will have to assume he's hoping that those who drive without licenses will become voters. After all, every state in the union requires you to have a driver''s license. The powers that be in Los Angeles seem to forget that we have laws for a reason. Of course they tend to rub elbows with those whose children don't cut lawns, wash cars, or wash dishes in Westside restaurants. God forbid if the unlicensed (and undocumented) labor pool can't make it to work because their was impounded. Then the Westside liberals would have to mow their own lawns.

[D.]

Maybe the LAPD should start thinking about who they're supposed to be protecting and serving - I believe it's those of us who have valid licenses, vehicle registration and insurance. Not the other way around.

[yours truly, Johnny Dollar]

LAPD wake up! "may be unconstitutional..."
It is constitutional until the United States Supreme Court rules otherwise.
"may be" is down there with "some say."
Well, if only "some say," then there are the "some don't say."
You don't say.

[David in Tarzana]

Thank you Dennis Zine for speaking out against this LAPD order to stop impounding cars. I'm glad someone on the City Council has some common sense and guts!

From the LA Times article:

"Bill Bratton is a great police chief," said Cedillo, praising the LAPD action. "We just want people to follow the law."

Yeah Gil. I just want the "people" to follow the law too. Get a license. Pay your insurance. Register your car. I have to. Why should someone who choses to break the law get a free ride? Oh sorry I forgot. This is Los Angeles were the laws only apply to the people who chose to follow them. Give me a break!