Thread: CA-DUI dragnets snag other offenders

DUI dragnets snag other offenders
Some caught at checkpoint can't afford the high fees
By Scott Hadly
Posted March 20, 2010 at 11 p.m.


It’s just a traffic stop, but police officers screening cars at sobriety checkpoints are in the middle of one of the rawest debates in California, touching on immigration, race, fairness and safety.

While DUI checkpoints are seen as a deterrent to drunken driving, they also have become dragnets for catching unlicensed drivers, often poor, undocumented immigrants, according to mostly anecdotal information from checkpoints and police officials.

And the penalty for the offense — a mandatory 30-day impoundment of the vehicle — falls particularly heavy on people who often cannot afford the $1,200 to $4,000 in towing and impoundment fees. More than half of the cars impounded are never claimed and later sold at lien sales, according to several tow company operators.

“It’s not fair,â€

Oxnard is a gang over riden hell hole.

Wasn't like that 15 years ago.

Sober, "UNLICENSED" Drivers should also be ARRESTED!!!!! When these unresponsible, "unlicensed" drivers get into an accident, guess whose insurance rates rise??? What part of "driving without a license" do these "idiots" not get? It's ILLEGAL AND AGAINST THE LAW!!!! GOOD WE GET THESE UNLICENSED DRIVERS AND CARS OFF THE ROAD!!!!

A recent report by the Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkeley and California Watch found that checkpoints across California produce more vehicle impounds — from sober, unlicensed drivers — than DUI arrests.

Well, when the state has the highest number of illegal immigrants this should not be surprising.

Originally Posted by TakingBackSoCal

Oxnard is a gang over riden hell hole.

Wasn't like that 15 years ago.

DITTO!

Originally Posted by NoBueno

Originally Posted by TakingBackSoCal

Oxnard is a gang over riden hell hole.

Wasn't like that 15 years ago.

DITTO!

They have a depleting Naval station there.

The oceanfront is HEAVILY POLICED.