L.A. Police to ignore California impound law amid concern of fairness to illegal immi

**HAPPY2BME** · 03-22-2012, 08:56 PM

Police to ignore California impound law amid concern of fairness to illegal immigrants

But he believes that the city is pandering to the Latino community and doesn't hold out hope that the policy will change anytime soon.

"It's more important that people who are in the country illegally get to drive than it is that people who are here get to live."

By William Lajeunesse
Published March 22, 2012
| FoxNews.com

The Los Angeles Police Department will soon start ignoring California state law, which requires police to impound the vehicles of unlicensed drivers for 30 days.

The majority of unlicensed motorists in Los Angeles are immigrants who are in the country illegally and have low-income jobs. The LAPD says the state's impound law is unfair because it limits their ability to get to their jobs and imposes a steep fine to get their car back.

As long as drivers can produce some form of I.D., proof of insurance and vehicle registration, they'll be allowed to keep their car. Police Chief Charlie Beck insists that it's simply leveling the playing field.

"It's about fairness. It's about equal application of the law," Beck told a Los Angeles TV station earlier this month.

Opponents of Beck's decision are furious and refer to studies showing unlicensed drivers are among the most dangerous on the road. Indeed, a 2011 AAA study titled "Unlicensed to Kill" finds they are five times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes and more likely to flee the scene of a crime.

The decision has angered Don Rosenberg, a resident of Los Angeles County, who lost his 25-year old son, Drew, in a 2010 accident caused by an unlicensed driver in San Francisco, a city with lax impound policies. The driver, who tried fleeing the scene, had previously been pulled over but was allowed to retrieve his car after a short time, months before the accident.

"It doesn't matter to me who killed my son-- what their nationality was. It was the fact that if the law were followed, he'd be alive today," Rosenberg told Fox News.

Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley wrote Chief Beck, saying his policy would be "invalid" in light of state law, which states a vehicle "shall be impounded." But supporters of Beck's decision say, regardless of the law, he's doing the right thing for illegal immigrants who cannot yet obtain driver's licenses here.

"A low-income person doesn't have the ability to pay the fees after 30 days to get their car back," said Cardinal Roger Mahony, former Archbishop of Los Angeles and an immigration activist. "Basically, we're just creating more punitive problems for them."

The L.A. Police Commission voted in favor of the new policy 4-1 last month. The LAPD says officers will begin implementing it in a matter of weeks. The city attorney has also sided with Beck's decision.

Immigrant advocates say the controversy highlights the need to provide provisional driver's licenses for illegal immigrants.

Don Rosenberg says he'd favor that, as long as the police enforce state law by impounding unlicensed drivers' cars when pulled over. But he believes that the city is pandering to the Latino community and doesn't hold out hope that the policy will change anytime soon.

"It's more important that people who are in the country illegally get to drive than it is that people who are here get to live," he said.

source: Police To Ignore California Impound Law Amid Concern Of Fairness To Illegal Immigrants | Fox News

**ShawnX5** · 03-22-2012, 09:13 PM

When will the U.S man-up and realize and Enforce the FACT, that Illegals DON'T qualify for "Fairness" or "Equality"....
They CHOSE to BREAK the LAW and Commit Crimes, Nobody forced them to come here, or stay here, Illegally!!

By choosing to do so, they exclude themselves from Equal rights and Fairness..! It doesn't take a rocket scientist, or even a super smart person to figure that out...
So who is running our government? Idiots with an IQ of a newborn? Just saying...

**Newmexican** · 03-23-2012, 08:08 AM

In "fairness", if illegals donn't have to have a license or insurance then US citizens shouldn't have to either.
You can't make exceptions to the law based on foreign nationality and give every illegal alien diplomatic status. These decisions are not based on race because Hispanic is not a race.

**stevetheroofer** · 03-23-2012, 09:04 AM

Video at source:

Police To Ignore California Impound Law Amid Concern Of Fairness To Illegal Immigrants | Fox News

**stevetheroofer** · 03-23-2012, 09:05 AM

**Jean** · 03-23-2012, 12:43 PM

Added to Homepage with slightly amended title:
http://www.alipac.us/content/l-polic...egal-immi-292/

**JohnDoe2** · 03-23-2012, 03:29 PM

RELATED

http://www.alipac.us/f12/az-lawmaker...hicles-253560/

**JohnDoe2** · 03-25-2012, 05:02 PM

Fresno police arrest 13 at DUI checkpoint

By BoNhia Lee - The Fresno Bee
Sunday, Mar. 25, 2012 | 01:51 PM

Fresno police arrested 13 people on suspicion of driving under the influence during a DUI checkpoint in southwest Fresno on Saturday night.

Twenty-five vehicles were impounded when the drivers were arrested on suspicion of DUI or did not have a valid driver's license.

Fresno police arrest 13 at DUI checkpoint - Updates - fresnobee.com

**JohnDoe2** · 05-02-2012, 07:10 PM

RELATED

http://www.alipac.us/f12/lapd-not-im...3/#post1277068

**JohnDoe2** · 05-03-2012, 02:07 PM

LAPD plans Cinco de Mayo DUI checkpoints, saturation patrols

From wire service reportsdailybreeze.com
Posted: 05/03/2012 07:03:20 AM PDT
May 3, 2012 2:7 PM GMTUpdated: 05/03/2012 07:06:27 AM PDT

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Police Department will begin a series of drunken driving checkpoints and saturation patrols Thursday in connection with Cinco de Mayo, which authorities say prompts an increase in drunken driving.

The LAPD will conduct saturation patrols in Van Nuys from 6 p.m. Thursday to 2 a.m. Friday and in South Los Angeles from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Sobriety checkpoints will be operated at Vermont Avenue and Sixth Street and at Hollywood Boulevard and Gower Street from 7 p.m. Friday to 3 a.m. Saturday; Cahuenga Boulevard and Broadlawn Drive in North Hollywood from 7 p.m. Saturday to 3 a.m. Sunday; and Imperial Highway and Main Street from 7 p.m. Sunday to 3 a.m. Monday.

The LAPD also suggests that party hosts, bars and restaurants this year encourage to plan and promote the designation of sober drivers in advance.

The LAPD is also advising Cinco de Mayo partygoers to:

-- Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;

-- Designate a sober driver;

-- Leave your car keys at home;

-- Call a taxi, a friend or family member or use public transit to ensure you get home safely;

-- Call 911 if you see a drunken driver on a street or freeway;

-- Take the car keys away from someone who is about to drive impaired and assist them in getting home safely.

LAPD plans Cinco de Mayo DUI checkpoints, saturation patrols - Press-Telegram

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