Bills would reduce illegal-immigrant car seizures

July 5th, 2011, 12:13 pm
by Martin Wisckol, Politics reporter

The state Senate Public Safety Committee is expected today to consider two bills, AB1389 and AB353, that would make it more difficult for law enforcement officials at sobriety checkpoints to seize the cars of unlicensed drivers.

But opponents are expected to cite a study showing those unlicensed drivers are far more likely to be involved in fatal accidents than licensed drivers.

California Watch has reported that checkpoints have resulted in the seizure of six times as many cars as DUI arrests.

“The overwhelming majority of unlicensed drivers in California are illegal immigrants who cannot obtain a license,â€