Posted on 09/09/2007 11:37:38 AM PDT by dennisw
The success of an Athens law that impounds vehicles driven by unlicensed motorists is encouraging Decatur Mayor Don Kyle to support an even stricter ordinance.
The Athens ordinance took effect Aug. 10 and snaked 299 vehicles off the street in less than four weeks. Police averaged nearly 18 vehicles per day.
To retrieve vehicles, owners must pay fines, towing fees, a $25 administrative fee and show proof of liability insurance. Only a licensed driver can get the vehicle out of impound.
Since the law took effect, one Athens towing company employee said the rate of car accidents has decreased dramatically, but towing services are busy with impoundments.
That success is encouraging Kyle, who hopes to present his tougher ordinance to the City Council this fall.
“In Decatur, we want people driving who are eligible to drive and who are insured to protect other drivers if they make a mistake,” he said. “This is a doable goal.”
While the city has not released a draft of the proposed ordinance, Kyle said it will likely include provisions for towing the vehicles of unlicensed and uninsured drivers.
He also said his version will have more aggressive fees than the one in Athens — though the fees are yet to be agreed upon.
A final departure from the Athens ordinance concerns what to do with motorists whose vehicles are impounded. In Athens, the police offer the subject a ride home, but Kyle said Decatur police will not be required to do the same.
“We may offer to call someone, but we’re not going to run a taxi service,” he said. “And we’re not going to occupy a police officer’s time waiting with them.”
Controversy
Despite the successful numbers in Athens’ ordinance, critics maintain the new law unfairly targets illegal immigrants, who do not have the ability to obtain a driver license or insurance.
According to one Athens towing company employee, a majority of the vehicles impounded since the new law took effect do belong to illegal immigrants.
Kyle commented on the controversy in an interview with The Daily in July, saying his intent is not to target any particular group other than unlicensed, uninsured drivers. He said he felt it was his duty as mayor to enforce the laws already on the books.
“If we stop people that either don’t have a license or can’t prove they have insurance, they’re in violation of the law,” he said. “If we let them get back in that car and drive off, we’re aiding and abetting their violation.”
Logistics
Concerns over the proposed ordinance involve the logistics of impounding the high volume of vehicles anticipated if the ordinance is approved.
Already this year, Decatur police have issued more than 2,100 citations to drivers without a license or proof of insurance or both.
Over the past three years, the Decatur Police Department issued an average of 10 citations a day for the violations.
That volume could create a strain for local towing companies, said Mike Turner, owner of McBride Wrecker Service in Decatur.
Most cannot handle more than 30 to 50 cars at a time, he said.
If owners do not pick up their cars quickly enough, it could create a problem.
“None of us have huge lots, so it’s going to put a strain on everyone’s storage facilities, but mostly I feel it’s a positive,” Turner said.
Other concerns involve what the standard towing and storage fees will be. Kyle said the fee amounts will not be written into the ordinance, but he would like the towing companies to agree on a uniform rate.
Towing company owners say that could be costly for them, especially if they are forced to deal with many vehicles that are never claimed. Just to declare the vehicle abandoned costs at least $100 in filing fees, said Susie Fisher, owner of B&W Wrecker Service in Decatur, but some vehicles are worth only about $50 when sold for junk.
“We lose money on these junk cars,” she said. “There’s a lot of different things that go into it, and I don’t think it should be up to the mayor what I charge.”
They could probably make some extra scratch by selling the alcohol they find in the illegal’s cars.
There was a thread August 29th advising that the same polity was being discontinued here in So Cal because it impacted illegals.
It DID work.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1888192/posts?q=1&;page=1#1
spend $1,500???????...
come to NJ....lol...
Uninsured, unlicensed, and driving pieces of junk that are probably death-traps to both parties. Just like Mexico.
If you've got time, drop these mayors a note of appreciation. I am sure the libs are doing just the opposite, and these officials need all the support they can get.
Don Kyle - dkyle@decatur-al.gov
Heidi Davison - mayor@athensclarkecounty.com
I would think that insurance companies would help subsidize the program, as it directly helps their bottom lines, first by reducing the number of uninsured motorists who would be getting into accidents with their policy holders, and second by encouraging people to get insurance
With two teenage drivers $1,500 will not even cover 6 months of insurance around here.
Then again, I’m not running around with the absolute minimum either. :-) Too many uninsured and unlicensed drivers around here.
Duh!
I think that is for 6 months here in LA. One teenager.
Sheana, that is a great idea. I have always wanted a check-list on my tax form, for all sorts of things: raises for the Senators (NO), illegal health care (NO, thanks anyway); jaunts to Hawaii and etc. by your Congresscritters (No thanks). It would remodel this country and fast.
Could be a once in a year poll on alot of things that cost taxpayers money.
If you don’t check the box and give the money (out of you refund or taxes owed) then my guess would be the answer is NO.
One biggie a year is all it would take. ;)
“Mostly Illegal Aliens” — the murderous menace on our highways — a cost that is NEVER considered by the open borders jerks...
I recall seeing a study showing more deaths on our highways in ONE YEAR, directly related to illegal aliens, than the combined military deaths from fighing 5 years in Afghanistan/Iraq...
That’s another statistic you hardly ever hear from the “Open Borders, or Amnesty For All” assholes...
Driving an auto is a privilage...not a right....
This type of vehicle seizure has been going on in some places in Illinois for some time.
seizure and impoundment of motor vehicles for various offenses.
Them that can, write; those as can't, edit. Those as can't edit, teach literature. Them's as can't teach, are critics.
Must work somewhat the same with these critics: They can't do anything useful, so b***h & moan, and gripe & groan, without any qualifications or usefulness of purpose.
Illegal Alien Insurance Questionaire
I have to laugh because it is too close to the truth.
Let’s see here, 18 cars a day seized, most of which are driven by illegal aliens. Coupled with a dramatic drop in accidents. Accidents being defined as US citizens having their cars damaged and/or being personally injured or killed. Ipso facto, American lives and property are being saved and protected.
What kind of idiot defines this as “unfair to illegals”?
Since when having to have a license and an insurance policy to drive a car became an “unfair” requirement? Arghhhhh!
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