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Old 01-24-2012, 03:36 PM
DerailAmnesty.com DerailAmnesty.com is offline
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Default Impounding Cars Of Unlicensed Drivers

This opinion piece appeared in several local papers, a few days ago.


Larry Elder: Impound controversy is life and death issue

By Larry Elder
Posted: 01/19/2012 07:36:30 PM PST

At least Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck admit it. They want to change the way the police deal with unlicensed drivers - to make life easier for illegal immigrants.

"It's a fairness issue," Beck said. "There is a vast difference between someone driving without a license because they cannot legally be issued one and someone driving after having their license revoked."

Right now, police impound the cars of unlicensed drivers for 30 days, and an impound charge and towing fee must be paid to get the car back. The Police Protective League, which opposes any change in this policy, says the cost is about $1,400.

Critics say this places an "undue burden" on "undocumented workers" - who are not supposed to be here in the first place, let alone driving. Under the proposed change, the police must allow a first-time unlicensed driver/offender (how can they tell?) to call a licensed friend or relative to retrieve the car.

We seize the cars of unlicensed drivers for good reason. Unlicensed drivers kill people.

AAA says that, of the 40,000 fatal car crashes every year, one in five involves an unlicensed driver. The state Department of Motor Vehicles says that compared with licensed drivers, those driving without licenses are five times more likely to be involved in a fatal car accident.

California law is clear about its purpose - to discourage people from driving without a license.

The vehicle code states: "The state has a critical interest in enforcing its traffic laws and in keeping unlicensed drivers from illegally driving. Seizing the vehicles used by unlicensed drivers serves a significant governmental and public interest, namely the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of Californians from the harm of unlicensed drivers, who are involved in a disproportionate number of traffic incidents ."

For every high-profile accident involving an unlicensed or drunk driver like the one who killed Nick Adenhart, the promising Los Angeles Angels pitcher, there are many more like that of the unlicensed driver who killed 25-year-old Drew Rosenberg.

At a Los Angeles Police Commission forum in Northridge, Drew's father, Don, received a standing ovation after blasting Chief Beck: "If you think it's fair, you come down the road and come meet my son in his cemetery and you tell him that this is fair."

Get involved. Contact your council member. This truly is a matter of life and death.


----------------- ----------------- -----------------

These letters to the Editor, in response, appeared in today's issue of The Daily Breeze:


Re "Impound policy is life and death issue" (Larry Elder, Jan. 20):
If you can't get a driver's license in the state of California, you can't get insurance. Therefore, if you can't get insurance, then you can't drive a car in California. I don't know what the big issue is about. The law specifically states the above. The car then must be impounded until the driver is licensed and insured. If the issue is the amount of money to get the car out of impound, then have the state subsidize the impound lots and charge a reasonable amount to release the car. It will be cheaper than what the licensed and insured driver must spend to get their life back together after an accident with an unlicensed/uninsured driver. I agree with Mr. Elder -- it's also a matter of life and death, which is more important than the money issue. This state must protect the law-abiding citizens.

-- Michael Nairne, Newhall


Re "Impound controversy is life, death issue" (Larry Elder, Jan. 20):
Larry Elder cites a ratio of one in five of unlicensed drivers involved in fatal accidents. He goes on to imply that most of them are illegal immigrants. If this is the case, cite the statistics for this assumption. He may in fact be correct, but the numbers he uses do not prove his case. Is this true, or is it a way to denigrate the illegal people living and working in our community? He should spend some time trying to get acquainted with a few of them. He might change his outlook.

-- Ralph Manker, Torrance
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Last edited by DerailAmnesty.com; 01-24-2012 at 03:40 PM.
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Old 01-24-2012, 04:05 PM
DerailAmnesty.com DerailAmnesty.com is offline
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Counterpoint:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n6sv4...layer_embedded
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Old 01-27-2012, 07:39 AM
Patriotic Army Mom Patriotic Army Mom is offline
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They want to make it easier for anyone who doesn't do the right thing. Fire them both.
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