Chicago aldeman says impounding vehicle cuts crime
Transportation Committee Chairman Tom Allen of the 38th ward is proposing that motorists who are caught driving on suspended or revoked licenses should have their vehicles impounded.
This is Allen's second attempt to have driving on a suspended or revoked license added to the offenses punishable with vehicle impoundment.
"Last time they said there was no room in the auto pounds. There was also concern about using impoundment to punish someone whose license was suspended for auto emissions," Allen said Monday.
"It's time to implement this ordinance. There were some pretty impressive testimony from the Police Department regarding the number of drug arrests and contraband found in vehicles driven by people with suspended or revoked licenses. It could help reduce some of the violence on our streets."
In 2007 then Deputy Chief -of-Patrol Michael McCotter claimed that 1 in every three accidents that resulted in death or serious injuries involved at least one driver who was driving with a suspended or revoked license.
Allen's proposal will be considered on Wednesday by the City's Council's Police and Traffic Committees.
A driver whose car has been impounded would be have to pay a $1,000 administrative fine together with the customary towing and storage fees.
The Chicago Sun-Times exposed the abuse in their "Why Are They Driving Series?" after witnessing drivers leaving the courthouses in the their vehicles after promising the judge that they wouldn't drive. These include drivers whose licenses were suspended for driving under the influence or having to many unpaid parking tickets.
Currently, having your vehicle impounded is the city's penalty for 13 offenses which include driving under the influence, fly-dumping, solicitation, having your car radio too loud, racing, violating curfew and various drug violations. Driving on a suspended or revoked license would become the 14th offense.
Jim Conlon, the assistant Streets and Sanitation Commissioner warned the Police Committee the last time impoundment was considered that the city's auto pounds were at capacity and that impounding vehicles for suspended or revoked licenses would "push us over the limit."
Conlon was asked again on Monday whether this was still the case to which he replied, "that's all changed." He did not go into any detail.
In Chicago, over 25,000 drivers a year get tickets for driving with a suspended or revoked license.
