Thread: CA: State moves to limit cities' ability to impound cars

State moves to limit cities' ability to impound cars

In response to practices in Bell, the California Senate approves restrictions for DUI checkpoints. The measure goes back to the Assembly for final approval. Brown has not taken a position.

By Patrick McGreevy, Los Angeles Times
August 31, 2011

Reporting from Sacramento— The state Senate on Tuesday voted to restrict cities' ability to impound cars driven by people caught at sobriety checkpoints without driver's licenses. The action came as a direct response to the city of Bell, which made it a practice to confiscate vehicles from unlicensed motorists — many of them illegal immigrants — and then charge high impound fees or sell them in order to fill city coffers.

Currently, cities can hold cars taken from unlicensed drivers for 30 days, with impound fees accruing each day. If unclaimed, the vehicles may then be auctioned off, something that often happens when fines and fees exceed the car's value.

Under the legislation, if a sober driver is caught at a DUI checkpoint without a valid license, officers must release the car to a qualified driver representing the registered owner.

If a licensed driver isn't immediately available, the car can be released to one later by the impound yard.

But some Republican lawmakers said that public safety would be jeopardized by AB 353, which was previously approved by the Assembly but must go back to that chamber for action on amendments. The bill would then go to Gov. Jerry Brown, who has yet to take a position on it.

"If we lower this standard, what we are doing is encouraging more people without driver's licenses to be on the roads," said state Sen. Joel Anderson (R-San Diego). "There is a reason they don't have a driver's license. It's not because they are a good driver."

Anti-immigration activists also warned that the legislation would remove one deterrent to illegal immigrants driving without a license.

"It seems if there is a law that inconveniences illegal aliens, they [legislators] are willing to change it," said Ira Mehlman, a spokesman with the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

Bell police officers impounded hundreds of cars because the drivers were unlicensed. But according to the bill's sponsor, Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles), and other lawmakers, the practice is not isolated to the troubled Los Angeles suburb.

"What is really going on here is, some local governments, including the city of Bell, are using this impoundment to make money," said Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) "Folks on the other side of the aisle who rightfully sometimes rail against government running amok and hurting people with its police powers ought to recognize this for what it is — an abuse."

A handful of Republican senators joined in voting to pass the bill, which Democrats said was narrowly tailored to respond to DUI dragnets that are purely predatory.

Steinberg noted that 24,000 cars were impounded in 2009 at DUI checkpoints in California but that only 3,200 of those behind the wheel were charged with driving under the influence.

The impound measure was one of dozens that lawmakers approved Tuesday.

Among them, the Senate voted to bar cities and counties from enacting laws prohibiting male circumcision. Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Silver Lake) had introduced the bill in response to petition drives in two cities. Activists in Santa Monica eventually dropped their effort, and a judge ordered a San Francisco measure off the ballot.

"When you have a situation where a group of extremists is trying to take away the rights of parents and others, I think it is an appropriate role for government to step in and preserve liberty," Gatto said. His bill, AB 768, goes back to the Assembly for action.

The Senate also voted to ban the chemical bisphenol-A (BPA) from baby bottles and sippy cups on grounds it is toxic and poses a health threat. Senators sent AB 1319 back to the Assembly, which previously approved a stricter bill, for concurrence on amendments.

patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me ... 0834.story

OCEANSIDE: DUI checkpoint set for Friday

OCEANSIDE ---- Police will hold a sobriety checkpoint from 8 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday, an Oceanside police lieutenant said.

Aug 18, 2011 | 5:45 pm


ESCONDIDO: Sobriety enforcements, checkpoints for drivers this weekend

Escondido police will conduct sobriety enforcements ---- including checkpoints ---- in Escondido this weekend, a police lieutenant said.

Aug 11, 2011 | 5:33 pm


SAN MARCOS: 19 cars impounded, 5 drivers arrested at checkpoint

SAN MARCOS ---- Sheriff's deputies impounded 19 vehicles and arrested five drivers during a DUI checkpoint Friday, authorities said Saturday.

Aug 06, 2011 | 8:04 pm


REGION: 10 arrested in weekend DUI checkpoints in North County

Checkpoints held overnight at two locations throughout the county netted 10 drunken driving arrests, officials said.

Aug 05, 2011 | 6:00 am


VISTA: 9 drivers arrested at checkpoint

Police arrested nine people and towed 26 vehicles at a weekend DUI checkpoint, authorities said Saturday.

Jul 30, 2011 | 6:49 pm


OCEANSIDE: DUI checkpoint set for Friday

OCEANSIDE ---- Police will hold a sobriety checkpoint starting at 8 p.m. Friday and running until 3 a.m., an Oceanside police lieutenant said.

Jul 29, 2011 | 10:00 pm


ESCONDIDO: DUI checkpoint set for Friday night

ESCONDIDO ---- Escondido police will hold a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint on Friday from 6 p.m. and until midnight,a police lieutenant said.

Jul 28, 2011 | 9:14 pm


VISTA: Sheriff's Department to hold DUI checkpoint

VISTA ---- Deputies will hold a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint starting Friday night in Vista, a San Diego County Sheriff's sergeant said.

Jul 28, 2011 | 9:00 pm


STRICKLAND: We've been driven to extremes

We, actually Our Fuzz, ran a DUI checkpoint Friday night in Menifee. The good news is only one person was arrested for driving drunk.

Jul 26, 2011 | 10:00 pm


MENIFEE: 38 vehicles towed at checkpoint

MENIFEE ---- Police towed 38 vehicles at a DUI and driver's license checkpoint and arrested five people on suspicion of drunken driving, authorities said Sunday.

Jul 24, 2011 | 7:41 pm


LAKE ELSINORE: Drivers arrested at checkpoint

LAKE ELSINORE ---- Police arrested seven people and towed 17 vehicles at a weekend DUI checkpoint, authorities said Sunday.

Jul 24, 2011 | 7:33 pm


OCEANSIDE: DUI checkpoint set for Friday

Oceanside police officers will set up a checkpoint Friday night to catch drunken drivers, officials said Tuesday.

Jul 12, 2011 | 3:49 pm


ESCONDIDO: Police to hold DUI, driver's license checkpoint Saturday

Police will conduct a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint in Escondido on Saturday night.

Jun 29, 2011 | 10:39 am


CANYON LAKE: Public safety cuts on council agenda

With the results of a failed public safety tax ballot measure in its rearview mirror, the Canyon Lake City Council must now look at making painful cuts in police and fire services to balance its budget for the coming year.

Jun 21, 2011 | 5:45 pm


ESCONDIDO: Police impound 23 vehicles in weekend crackdown

ESCONDIDO ---- Police impounded 23 vehicles and issued 54 citations during a sobriety saturation patrol and driver's license checkpoint over the weekend.

Jun 19, 2011 | 4:11 pm


ESCONDIDO: DUI enforcement, traffic checkpoint planned this weekend

ESCONDIDO ---- Enforcement to catch intoxicated drivers, including at least one traffic checkpoint, is planned for sometime this weekend, police said.

Jun 17, 2011 | 8:59 pm


EDITORIAL: Roundup of what others are saying

Adopting a uniform checkpoint policy

Jun 03, 2011 | 10:00 pm


ESCONDIDO: DUI and license checkpoint set for Saturday

ESCONDIDO ---- Police will conduct a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint from 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday, the Escondido Police Department said in a written statement.

Jun 03, 2011 | 12:00 am


LETTERS: NCT, May 30, 2011

Leave Reeser alone

May 30, 2011 | 12:05 am


POWAY: 7 arrested at driver checkpoint

POWAY ---- Seven drivers were arrested during a DUI and driver safety checkpoint from 7 p.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday in Poway, authorities said.

May 14, 2011 | 4:42 pm


LETTERS: NCT, May 8, 2011

Accept the consequences

May 08, 2011 | 12:05 am


OCEANSIDE: Traffic checkpoint planned for 8 p.m. tonight

OCEANSIDE ---- Police will conduct a traffic checkpoint at 8 p.m. tonight to catch drunken drivers, authorities announced this afternoon.

May 06, 2011 | 2:52 pm


ESCONDIDO: Video shows police breaking car's window at DUI checkpoint

A video of two young men being arrested at an Escondido sobriety checkpoint in February shows police breaking the window of their car after the driver refuses repeated requests to roll down his window and show his driver's license.

May 04, 2011 | 8:44 pm


ESCONDIDO: Police impound 22 vehicles at checkpoint

ESCONDIDO ---- Police impounded 22 vehicles at a Saturday night DUI and license checkpoint, according to an Escondido Police Department statement.

Apr 24, 2011 | 8:37 pm


VISTA: 41 vehicles impounded at checkpoint

VISTA ---- Sheriff's deputies arrested seven people for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and cited dozens of others at a Saturday night checkpoint in the 200 block of Civic Center Drive.

Apr 18, 2011 | 1:59 pm


LAKE ELSINORE: Checkpoint results in one arrest

LAKE ELSINORE ---- A DUI and driver's license checkpoint held from 7 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday resulted in one arrest, authorities said.

Apr 16, 2011 | 10:07 pm


VISTA: Sheriff's Department to hold DUI checkpoint

VISTA ---- Deputies will hold a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint Saturday night in Vista, according to the Sheriff's Department.

Apr 15, 2011 | 10:56 am


ESCONDIDO: Police to hold DUI, driver's license checkpoint

ESCONDIDO ---- Police will conduct a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint in Escondido on Friday night.

Apr 07, 2011 | 6:48 pm


CANYON LAKE: DUI/driver's license checkpoint set for Friday

CANYON LAKE ---- Police will conduct an eight-hour sobriety and driver's license checkpoint Friday night in Canyon Lake, a police lieutenant said.

Mar 25, 2011 | 7:00 am


POWAY: Six arrested during St. Patrick's Day checkpoints

REGION ---- Two DUI checkpoints with "Friends don't let friends drive drunk this St. Patrick's Day" slogans resulted in six arrests for drunken driving Friday night.

Mar 19, 2011 | 9:54 pm


SAN MARCOS: Three drivers arrested, 22 vehicles impounded at sobriety checkpoint

SAN MARCOS ---- Deputies arrested three intoxicated drivers and impounded 22 vehicles during a St. Patrick's Day checkpoint Thursday night in San Marcos, according to the Sheriff's Department.

Mar 18, 2011 | 8:51 am


REGION: Traffic checkpoints planned in Poway and San Marcos

NORTH COUNTY ---- Traffic checkpoints to catch drunken drivers and people driving without a valid driver's license are planned this week in San Marcos and Poway, authorities announced Wednesday.

Mar 16, 2011 | 7:03 pm


ESCONDIDO: Intoxicated driver arrested at checkpoint

ESCONDIDO ---- One intoxicated driver was arrested and 14 vehicles were impounded during a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint Saturday night, according to the Escondido Police Department.

Mar 14, 2011 | 7:56 pm


ESCONDIDO: Police to conduct DUI, driver's license checkpoint

ESCONDIDO ---- Police will hold a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint Saturday in Escondido, said Lt. Tom Albergo.

Mar 10, 2011 | 4:02 pm


SAN MARCOS: Checkpoint set for Friday

SAN MARCOS ---- Police will conduct a checkpoint to stop drivers under the influence or without licenses from 7 p.m. Friday to 2:30 a.m. Saturday at an undisclosed location in the city, said Sgt. Stephanie Guerra in a written press release.

Feb 20, 2011 | 6:06 pm


ESCONDIDO: Officers break window when driver fails to comply

Officers broke a driver's side window and arrested two men when they failed to comply with an officer's requests to produce a license at a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint about 7:35 p.m. Friday at Juniper Street and Valley Parkway, Lt. Neil Griffin said.

Feb 12, 2011 | 10:32 pm


SAN DIEGO COUNTY: 160 arrested on DUI charges over Super Bowl weekend

A total of 160 motorists were jailed on suspicion of driving while intoxicated in San Diego County over the Super Bowl weekend, an increase of 18.5 percent over the comparable two-day period in 2010, authorities said Monday.

Feb 07, 2011 | 4:08 pm


LETTERS: NCT, Feb. 4, 2011

Average students vs. top students

Feb 04, 2011 | 12:05 am


REGION: Traffic checkpoints, extra patrols reportedly planned for Super Bowl Sunday

Regional law enforcement agencies will assign extra patrols Sunday to catch drunken drivers in more than 20 communities throughout the county, sheriff's officials said Monday.

Jan 31, 2011 | 7:57 pm


ESCONDIDO: Two DUI's received during sobriety check

ESCONDIDO ---- A sobriety and driver's license checkpoint resulted in two arrests for driving under the influence Friday night, according to a news release sent Saturday.

Jan 29, 2011 | 9:46 pm


MENIFEE: City asked to fund crime-prevention programs

Based on a request from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, Menifee may soon start paying for three volunteer crime-prevention programs at work in the city.

Jan 14, 2011 | 10:00 pm


REGION: Holiday weekend sees DUI arrests, fatality

Law enforcement agencies throughout San Diego County cracked down on drunken driving over the New Year's holiday weekend, with some ramping up staffing and setting up sobriety checkpoints.

Jan 02, 2011 | 6:41 pm | (5) Comments

http://www.nctimes.com/search/?l=50&sd= ... &t=article

News
Nine arrested at Fresno DUI checkpoint
Published on Sun Aug 14 11:06:52 PDT 2011
Nine people were arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and 24 vehicles were impounded during a police sobriety checkpoint Saturday night in southeast Fresno. Among those people arrested was a 56-year-old Fresno man who had more than three t...

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Nine cited at Fresno DUI checkpoint
Published on Sun Jul 24 12:26:30 PDT 2011
Fresno Police cited nine motorists Saturday night at a sobriety check on Kings Canyon Boulevard, east of Winery Avenue. Ten vehicles were impounded, officers said, either because the motorists were arrested for intoxication or did not have a v...

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13 arrested at DUI checkpoints in Fresno, Visalia
Published on Sun Aug 21 11:16:12 PDT 2011
Seven drivers were arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol Saturday night at a DUI checkpoint at McKinley and Normal avenues, Fresno police Sgt. Richard Tucker said. Along with the arrests, 27 cars were impounded becaus...

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Fresno police nab 10 at DUI checkpoint
Published on Sun Jul 10 22:24:55 PDT 2011
IN BRIEF Bee staff

News
Fresno cops arrest 10 at DUI checkpoint
Published on Sun Jul 10 12:30:09 PDT 2011
Police arrested 10 people on suspicion of drunk driving Saturday night at a checkpoint in southwest Fresno near Belmont and Delno avenues. Twenty-seven vehicles were impounded because the drivers had no valid license or had been arrested for ...

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Fresno police arrest 11 at DUI checkpoint
Published on Sat Jul 25 23:05:10 PDT 2009
Fresno police arrested 11 people on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs Friday night at a checkpoint.

News
Sobriety checkpoint nets 4 on DUI charges
Published on Mon Aug 22 06:45:47 PDT 2011
Police arrested four drivers on charges of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol and impounded 21 cars because the drivers did not have a valid driver's license at a sobriety checkpoint Sunday night in southeast Fresno. The checkpo...

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13 arrested in SW Fresno checkpoint
Published on Sun Jul 31 11:39:57 PDT 2011
Fresno police arrested 13 people for driving under the influence during a DUI checkpoint Saturday night in southwest Fresno. Police also impounded 24 vehicles because the drivers didn’t have a valid driver’s license or were under ...

www.fresnobee.com

_hey just need to be honest and call it what it is "an unlicenced driver check point" seems to work better for that than finding drunk drivers!

Originally Posted by moptop

_hey just need to be honest and call it what it is "an unlicenced driver check point" seems to work better for that than finding drunk drivers!

If you call it a DUI checkpoint it's legal.
If you call it a license checkpoint for illegal aliens it's illegal and "racist".
They tell everyone in advance when and where there will be a DUI checkpoint and they still get busted.
It's published in every local newspaper and on some TV stations news programs.

it's olny raciest if you happen to only fine hispanics it's not if they fine everyone who's caught without a lincence. Just because we all know that most of the people who drive in southren CA that dont have lincences are hispanic is besides the point. They should at some point in their stay in the US have to live by the same laws as the rest of us! I wouldnt call it a lincence check point for illegals as much as a lincence check point by it self. the fact they are illegal is beside the point theres plenty of people who drive after having their lincence revoked!

Escondido used to call them licence checkpoints
and the hispanics screamed that it was a racist plot to entrap illegal aliens,
and sued the city to stop them.
So now Escondido has DUI checkpoints.

The Socialist government is afraid the natives of So Cal will never go back to L.A. Give that city away at our expense they did.

Different places, different times, different names.


LAKE ELSINORE: Nine arrested during traffic checkpoint

LAKE ELSINORE ---- Nine people were arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol during a traffic checkpoint that began Friday night, police said.

Aug 27, 2011 | 5:22 pm


POWAY: Four people arrested, 21 vehicles impounded at traffic checkpoint

POWAY ---- Four people were arrested and 21 vehicles were impounded during a traffic checkpoint that started Friday night, authorities said.

Aug 27, 2011 | 5:04 pm


ESCONDIDO: Sobriety enforcement, checkpoints planned

ESCONDIDO ---- Police will conduct sobriety enforcement, including at least one driver's license checkpoint, in Escondido this weekend, a police lieutenant said.

Aug 25, 2011 | 7:15 pm


SAN MARCOS: Deputies to hold sobriety checkpoint

SAN MARCOS ---- Deputies will hold a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint starting at 7:30 p.m. Friday in San Marcos, according to the Sheriff's Department.

Aug 17, 2011 | 7:54 pm


ESCONDIDO: Proposals could help bridge city's ethnic divide

Escondido officials have come up with several new proposals to bridge the city's sharp ethnic divisions, but critics say the proposals lack substance and fail to address distrust among Latinos created by traffic safety checkpoints and the City Council's aggressive approach to illegal immigration …

Aug 15, 2011 | 9:00 pm


SIFUENTES: Do people favor, or fear, checkpoints?

Checkpoints have become a hot topic, not just in North County, but all over the state.

Aug 14, 2011 | 12:30 am


SAN MARCOS: Sobriety, driver's license checkpoint scheduled

SAN MARCOS ---- Deputies will hold a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint Friday night in San Marcos.

Aug 03, 2011 | 8:19 pm


ESCONDIDO: DUI checkpoint set for Friday night

ESCONDIDO ---- Escondido police will hold a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint on Friday from 6 p.m. and until midnight,a police lieutenant said.

Jul 28, 2011 | 9:14 pm


VISTA: Sheriff's Department to hold DUI checkpoint

VISTA ---- Deputies will hold a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint starting Friday night in Vista, a San Diego County Sheriff's sergeant said.

Jul 28, 2011 | 9:00 pm | (9) Comments


STRICKLAND: We've been driven to extremes

We, actually Our Fuzz, ran a DUI checkpoint Friday night in Menifee. The good news is only one person was arrested for driving drunk.

Jul 26, 2011 | 10:00 pm


MENIFEE: 38 vehicles towed at checkpoint

MENIFEE ---- Police towed 38 vehicles at a DUI and driver's license checkpoint and arrested five people on suspicion of drunken driving, authorities said Sunday.

Jul 24, 2011 | 7:41 pm


LAKE ELSINORE: Drivers arrested at checkpoint

LAKE ELSINORE ---- Police arrested seven people and towed 17 vehicles at a weekend DUI checkpoint, authorities said Sunday.

Jul 24, 2011 | 7:33 pm | (4) Comments


POWAY: Six arrested at traffic checkpoint on Poway Road, authorities say

POWAY ---- Six drivers were arrested and eight vehicles were impounded during a traffic checkpoint that began Friday night on Poway Road, authorities said.

Jul 23, 2011 | 4:28 pm


ESCONDIDO: Police to conduct traffic checkpoint

ESCONDIDO ---- Police will conduct a traffic checkpoint Wednesday, asking motorists who pass through to show a driver's license, registration and proof of insurance, according to an Escondido Police Department statement.

Jul 12, 2011 | 7:01 pm


VISTA: Trial for two men arrested at Escondido checkpoint will go forward

The case against two men arrested at an Escondido checkpoint for allegedly failing to comply with officers' orders can go forward, a judge said Friday after attorneys for the two men asked the court to throw out the evidence against them.

Jul 08, 2011 | 6:26 pm


ESCONDIDO: Police to hold DUI, driver's license checkpoint Saturday

Police will conduct a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint in Escondido on Saturday night.

Jun 29, 2011 | 10:39 am


ESCONDIDO: More tow companies may split checkpoint revenue

Escondido plans to increase the number of private towing companies that handle the city's controversial traffic safety checkpoints and other work, but critics say the move makes no sense with the number of vehicle impounds down about 40 percent since 2007.

Jun 21, 2011 | 6:00 pm


ESCONDIDO: Police impound 23 vehicles in weekend crackdown

ESCONDIDO ---- Police impounded 23 vehicles and issued 54 citations during a sobriety saturation patrol and driver's license checkpoint over the weekend.

Jun 19, 2011 | 4:11 pm


TRAGESER: Protest, or warning off criminals?

The American Civil Liberties Union is most likely correct in its reading of the law regarding the anti-checkpoint picketers in Escondido. The anti-vendor law probably doesn't apply to those who gather near police checkpoints waving signs that warn motorists of the police activity ahead of…

Jun 05, 2011 | 12:00 am


MENIFEE: One driver arrested at traffic checkpoint

MENIFEE ---- One person was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving at a traffic checkpoint Friday night, police said.

Jun 04, 2011 | 2:40 pm


ESCONDIDO: DUI and license checkpoint set for Saturday

ESCONDIDO ---- Police will conduct a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint from 6 p.m. to midnight Saturday, the Escondido Police Department said in a written statement.

Jun 03, 2011 | 12:00 am


OCEANSIDE: Police to hold sobriety checkpoint Sunday night

OCEANSIDE -- Police are scheduled to hold a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint Sunday night, according to the Oceanside Police Department.

May 25, 2011 | 6:53 pm


SAN MARCOS: Traffic checkpoint planned for Friday

SAN MARCOS ---- A traffic checkpoint is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Friday on San Elijo Road, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

May 24, 2011 | 9:00 pm


ESCONDIDO: Police to hold traffic safety checkpoint

ESCONDIDO -- Police will hold a traffic safety checkpoint Wednesday in Escondido, Lt. Mike Loarie said.

May 24, 2011 | 8:28 am


ESCONDIDO: Email glitch blamed for missing checkpoint notification

The Escondido Police Department failed to send out a public notice ahead of a sobriety checkpoint Friday night, which is a violation of the state-funded grant that pays for the operations.

May 23, 2011 | 2:36 pm


POWAY: 7 arrested at driver checkpoint

POWAY ---- Seven drivers were arrested during a DUI and driver safety checkpoint from 7 p.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Saturday in Poway, authorities said.

May 14, 2011 | 4:42 pm


POWAY: Checkpoint for motorists set Friday

POWAY ---- Deputies will hold a sobriety and driver's license checkpoint Friday night in the 16700 block of Espola Road in Poway, according to the San Diego County Sheriff's Department.

May 12, 2011 | 9:01 pm


ESCONDIDO: Five vehicles impounded during two checkpoints

ESCONDIDO ---- Five vehicles were impounded and 16 citations were issued during two traffic safety checkpoints conducted Tuesday in Escondido, police said.

May 04, 2011 | 9:55 pm


ESCONDIDO: Traffic checkpoint planned for Tuesday

ESCONDIDO ---- Police will be looking for unlicensed drivers at a traffic checkpoint Tuesday, authorities said.

May 02, 2011 | 1:55 pm


ESCONDIDO: Police impound 22 vehicles at checkpoint

ESCONDIDO ---- Police impounded 22 vehicles at a Saturday night DUI and license checkpoint, according to an Escondido Police Department statement.

Apr 24, 2011 | 8:37 pm



VISTA: 41 vehicles impounded at checkpoint

VISTA ---- Sheriff's deputies arrested seven people for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and cited dozens of others at a Saturday night checkpoint in the 200 block of Civic Center Drive.

Apr 18, 2011 | 1:59 pm


LAKE ELSINORE: Checkpoint results in one arrest

LAKE ELSINORE ---- A DUI and driver's license checkpoint held from 7 p.m. Friday to 1 a.m. Saturday resulted in one arrest, authorities said.

Apr 16, 2011 | 10:07 pm | (3) Comments


http://helenair.com/news/national/texas ... 41eac.html

DUI Checkpoints In California May Soon Be Regulated

By Ruxandra Guidi

September 1, 2011


SAN DIEGO — Critics of Assembly Bill 1389, like Santa Rosa Democrat Michael Allen, say the current law allows sobriety checkpoints to generate revenues for cities at the expense of undocumented immigrants who aren't allowed to get drivers' licenses.

The California Senate has voted to restrict cities' ability to confiscate cars and charge high towing and impound fees.

The bill was designed in response to the Southern California city of Bell, which filled its city coffers with high impound fees from DUI checkpoints. The city of Escondido has also been criticized for impounding the cars of drivers without licenses, notably undocumented immigrants.

Escondido police Chief Jim Maher, defended the practice

"The checkpoints were started before this became an issue with the illegal immigrant activists," Maher said. "We have done these since the '80s. We have done drivers' license checkpoints - which we now call 'traffic safety checkpoints' - since 2004. Both are totally unrelated to immigration."

Escondido has one of the highest ratios of impounds-to-arrests in California. Police there impound 11 cars for every one DUI arrest.

http://oneoldvet.com/

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