Thread: Pomona residents to join L.A. rally for new impound rules

I think it's clear who this law is aimed at.

http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_3977730

Article Launched: 06/25/2006 12:00:00 AM PDT

Pomona residents to join L.A. rally for new impound rules
By Monica Rodriguez, Staff Writer


POMONA - About 300 residents of Pomona and surrounding cities will be in Los Angeles this afternoon trying to gain lawmakers' support for a bill that would cut down on the length of time law enforcement agencies can impound cars.

The delegation, representing the Pomona-Inland Valley cluster of One LA, will travel to Wilshire Christian Church where they will participate in an assembly that is expected to draw more than 1,000 members of One LA-Industrial Areas Foundation from across Los Angeles County.

Pomona representatives plan to speak with state Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, along with state Sen. Nell Soto, D-Ontario, and other elected officials, said Pomona resident John Whitney, an organizer with the Pomona group.

The length of time cars are impounded and related fees can place a large economic burden on some families, Whitney said.

"It's an issue to many of our families,'' he said.

One LA is an organization that focuses on drawing people together to address issues that affect families, such as education, crime and housing.

Members of the delegation hope to receive Nunez's support for SB 626, introduced by Soto, Whitney said.

The proposed legislation, scheduled to go before the Assembly transportation committee Monday, would end the requirement that law enforcement agencies impound a vehicle for 30 days in situations where the driver has never been licensed.

Under the bill, an officer who catches someone driving without a license could have the driver leave the car in a safe and legal spot. The driver would receive a summons to appear in court.

If, however, the car could not be left in such a spot, and the officer were forced to have the vehicle towed, the car's owner could then retrieve the car from impound, provided a licensed driver accompanies them.

One LA members have been trying to shorten the time cars are impounded, Whitney said.

Whitney said reducing the length of impounds would benefit many in the state.

Pomona Police Chief James Lewis said the department's traffic officers recommended reducing the length of time towed cars were impounded from 30 days to one day earlier this year.

"We've been doing one-day tows for some time now ... and we're still seeing reductions in hit-and-run accidents and injury accidents,'' Lewis said. There are some instances when the police are allowed under the law to release the car from impound sooner.

The shorter impound periods have been effective, Lewis said.

"I think it's a good option unless some data shows the 30 day (approach) is more valuable,'' he said.

For people such as Pomona resident Laura Gomez, the length of time cars are impounded led her to becoming a member of One LA.

Gomez hasn't had her car towed, but she saw what a friend, a single mother of four earning minimum wage, went through to get her car back.

Her friend was stopped by Pomona police officers, who found she was driving without a license, Gomez said.

"She called me the next day crying ... she couldn't find a ride to get to work,'' Gomez said in Spanish.

The friend used several weeks pay and borrowed Gomez's vacation savings to pay to have the car released, Gomez said.

The car was released after her friend paid more than $1,500 in fees, she said. Car owners typically have to pay the cost of towing and impoundment to have their car released.

Councilman Marco Robles is among the elected officials planning on being at today's event.

At the assembly he expects to talk with other officials about the proposed legislation, he said.

"(Today) my hope is to encourage support,'' he said.

On Monday, Robles will join members of One LA in Sacramento to lobby in favor of SB 626.

Reducing the impound times makes sense, Robles said.

"One day or 30 days, the statistics are no different,'' Robles said.


Monica Rodriguez, (909) 483-9336

Shaking head....how disconnected are these folks....here we have OBVIOUS ILLEGALS driving ILLEGALLLY without a license bemoaning the impoundment of their cars!

Where is the COMMONSENSE...if these people were OBEYING OUR LAWS, were properly licensed drivers, their cars would not be impounded!