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Activist pushes vehicle-impound crackdown for state ballot

By Daniel J. Chacon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published August 14, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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These vehicles at the Denver County impound lot on Wednesday are among the 21,000 vehicles impounded annually in Denver. Under Initiative 100, which was passed by Denver voters on Tuesday, that number could double, a city safety official says.

Photo by Darin McGregor © The Rocky

These vehicles at the Denver County impound lot on Wednesday are among the 21,000 vehicles impounded annually in Denver. Under Initiative 100, which was passed by Denver voters on Tuesday, that number could double, a city safety official says.

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The head of the Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform plans to pursue a statewide initiative forcing police to impound the vehicles of unlicensed drivers - a measure that would mirror the ballot question approved by Denver voters on Tuesday.

"We'll be pressing this issue at every turn we can," said Stan Weekes, state director of CAIR, which supported Initiative 100. He wants to get it on the ballot next year.

"We felt that if it could pass in Denver that it would pass in almost every jurisdiction," he said.

Denver voters approved Initiative 100 by 54 percent to 46 percent. It requires police to impound the car of any unlicensed driver who cannot prove citizenship.

Denver officials said they still don't know how much the initiative is going to cost, how they're going to pay for it or how much revenue the city is going to lose when officers are tied up towing vehicles instead of issuing traffic tickets.

They're also worried about the impact on public safety.

"We were not in favor of this because it would take police officers off the streets to wait for cars to be towed instead of doing active police work," said Mel Thompson, the city's deputy safety manager.

The initiative would more than double the number of vehicles that police tow annually, Thompson said. That increase would swamp the seven deputies who process an average of 21,000 vehicles every year at the city's impound lot.

"The drafters (of the initiative) may have been very well-meaning in what they were trying to accomplish. The problem is that I don't think they understand how it's going to affect the people who have to do the work," said sheriff's Capt. Frank Gale, president of the deputies union.

Meanwhile, City Attorney David Fine issued a statement Wednesday, saying his office is "closely examining" the initiative.

"As we stated before it passed, the city attorney's office has concerns about its constitutionality," he said. "We will carefully analyze the initiative over the next several days and advise city officials regarding implementation and enforcement."

Opponents of the initiative argued that it would lead to racial profiling because it singles out illegal immigrants.

Backers said it would take potentially dangerous drivers off the road.

Lindsey Hodel, of the Committee to Defeat 100, said her group expects someone to file a court challenge but has not decided whether it will take the lead.

Mayor John Hickenlooper, a majority of City Council members, religious leaders and the downtown business community all publicly opposed the measure.

When it passed, even proponents were a little surprised.

"I think we get to raise our eyebrow a little," said John Brick, a spokesman for CAIR.

The initiative "is not some kind of Miracle-Gro that is going to change everything," but a tool to help fight illegal immigration, said Brick, who helped collect signatures to get it on the ballot.

Denver already has several laws allowing police to seize and impound vehicles, but they give officers the discretion to do so.

"We believe that discretion is important in our job. Not every situation and person is the same all throughout the job," said Detective Martin Vigil, president of the Police Protective Association.

"But there were some officers who were for it, I have to tell you," he said.

"They believe that, just like everybody else, everybody who drives should have an operator's license, insurance, correct registration, valid license plates."

chacond@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5099 Staff writer Carrie Porter and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Don't forget your driver's license

* Initiative 100, which forces Denver police to impound the car of any unlicensed driver who could not prove citizenship, will go into effect when the clerk and recorder certifies the election results, which must be done no later than seven days after the election.

Comments

  • August 14, 2008

    4:43 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    fatdog writes:

    Once the first several fools have had their vehicles towed, most likely the number of fools driving with out a license will decline greatly. Several years ago my wife and daughter were rear ended on an I-70 exit, while stopped for a traffic light. The driver of the car which had just thrown their car nearly seventy feet forward, got out of his car and said "I'm drunk and on drugs, but I haven't had a license for seven years, so they can't take that away from me."

  • August 14, 2008

    5:49 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Mike846 writes:

    Maybe if there were fewer illegal aliens driving without a license, registration and insurance, there would be more time for police to do regular police work, too. How much time do they spend sitting by the wrecks caused by unlicensed and drunk drivers? Over time, that number ought to go DOWN, as enforcement picks up. This "article" is biased against the measure and gives only one side of the story. The city revenues will go UP; they get paid for every impounded car. They profit from the sale of cars. Meanwhile, instead of prosecuting DUI drivers and illegals, the City Attorney will be wasting taxpayer funds trying to find a way to oppose this measure. I guess the Liberal elite of the city don't get it; the majority of people want safer streets. This measure was a desperate cry for help. And as usual, when it comes to CITIZENS, Denver's sanctuary supporters simply ignore that. Vote Republican. Throw the rascals out. Mike

  • August 14, 2008

    6:11 a.m.

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    freethinker07 writes:

    Opponents of 100 oppose racial profiling but they do it themselves. They point out that most illegals are a specific race, and then want to forbid the police from coming to the same conclusion. They want to arrest employers for relying on forged documents but they don't want to arrest the employees who use those documents. But they don't want the employers to check those documents too carefully because it will lead to racial profiling.

  • August 14, 2008

    6:27 a.m.

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    crooks46 writes:

    I support Amendment 100 and think it should be passed statewide. Maybe if more cars were off the road driven by ILLEGAL ALIENS we would all be safer and perhaps the insurance rates would decline. If vehicles are impounded for drug charges, I have no problem with cars being impounded for no drivers license. It's about time we started be concerned about US citizens, and no I'm not a Republican.

  • August 14, 2008

    6:38 a.m.

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    Hambone writes:

    Crooks46 I agree. My zip code is one of the five worst in terms of insurance rates. Why? The number of unlicensed drivers. And I'm not a Republican either.

  • August 14, 2008

    6:45 a.m.

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    HumanBeans writes:

    "The head of the Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform plans to pursue a statewide initiative forcing police to impound the vehicles of unlicensed drivers"

    Got my vote.....Keep up the great work!

  • August 14, 2008

    6:49 a.m.

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    reddog writes:

    just ship the illegals back where they came from and problem solved.

  • August 14, 2008

    6:54 a.m.

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    HumanBeans writes:

    "We were not in favor of this because it would take police officers off the streets to wait for cars to be towed instead of doing active police work," said Mel Thompson, the city's deputy safety manager."

    Mel Thompson....how stupid can you be, impounding the cars of unlicensed, uninsured, unqulified drivers can do nothing more than make our roads safer for all citizens!

  • August 14, 2008

    7 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Buckwheat writes:

    Damn Germans. They need to set up a 50 along the Canadian Border and shoot anyone that tries to cross illegally. No more Mr. Nice Guy. I'am tired of supporting their strudel eating azzes.
    Go back to Germany and screw up your own country.

  • August 14, 2008

    7:01 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    HumanBeans writes:

    "We believe that discretion is important in our job. Not every situation and person is the same all throughout the job," said Detective Martin Vigil, president of the Police Protective Association."

    "But there were some officers who were for it, I have to tell you," he said.

    "They believe that, just like everybody else, everybody who drives should have an operator's license, insurance, correct registration, valid license plates."

    So how is appling the law to everyone......"RACIST"?

  • August 14, 2008

    7:02 a.m.

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    Buckwheat writes:

    Buckwheat need to switch to DeCaf.......Sorry.

  • August 14, 2008

    7:04 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    HumanBeans writes:

    Origins of illegal aliens (Pew Hispanic Center)

    Mexico.....................57%
    Latin America..........24%
    Asia..........................9%
    EU/Canada...............6%
    Africa/Other.............4%

  • August 14, 2008

    7:23 a.m.

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    LingLingfor_prez writes:

    There are many states that check your insurance and tow your car no matter who you are. It is to protect the people that do have insurance from dealing with people that don't. Why should my insurance go up to pay for people that don't bother to get insurance?

  • August 14, 2008

    7:25 a.m.

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    HumanBeans writes:

    I like strudel!

  • August 14, 2008

    8:04 a.m.

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    LoneTreeLady75 writes:

    LOL @ Buckwheat (strudel eatin azzes)

  • August 14, 2008

    8:06 a.m.

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    Buckwheat writes:

    Actually, I believe that if enforced it will also get vehicles off the road that are being driven by anyone who has lost their license. (ie Drunk drivers, traffic offenders, ect). Downtown businesses oppose this issue because they are one of the main users of illegal help such as dish washers, janitors, wait staff, and so forth.
    They're the ones saying that it will be used for racial profiling, to gain sympathy for their own agenda.

  • August 14, 2008

    8:12 a.m.

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    RS writes:

    "Denver officials said they still don't know how much the initiative is going to cost, how they're going to pay for it or how much revenue the city is going to lose when officers are tied up towing vehicles instead of issuing traffic tickets."

    An unexpected benefit! Colorado jurisdictions have become so focussed on ticket revenue they have lost all credibility on issuing tickets for safety issues. It's ALL about the money! When they begin stopping people for 58 MPH on a two lane rural highway, you know we have way too many patrol officers with nothing better to do than earn money for their local courts!

  • August 14, 2008

    8:58 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    RROBIN1102 writes:

    I had a motorcyce accident in June that I am still recovering from. I can not walk due to a broken leg and smashed kneecap. I hit a patch of gravel and couldn't get my leg out of the way quick enough and the bike came down on me. I was not speeding, I did not hit anyone, no one hit me. I have a valid license with motorcycle indorsement and full coverage insurance. I went to court last week in my wheelchair. I listened as numerous people (most non english speaking-TRUTH HURTS!) went before the judge for no license, no insurance charges. Most were receiving $40 fines and 0 points! One lady had no insurance and the judge asked her if she had ins. now, she said yes, the judge told her if she brought in proof before the end of the day she'd knock her fine from $500 to $250, the woman tells her "No, That's okay, I'll just pay the $500 fine!" I wonder how many went and paid the fine or just went out the door, I thought it was strange that so many people were ahead of me but there was no one in line to pay.
    I received a fine of $141 and 2 points, I was the ONLY person there with both a valid license and insurance!!!!!
    P.S. I hobbled over and voted YES on 100 yesterday and I am not Republican either.

  • August 15, 2008

    2:49 p.m.

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    coarizona writes:

    If you do not have a valid drivers license and insurance...get off our roads. Taxpaying citizens should demand this. We are tired of paying higher rates to cover selfish, stupid people. Or a political agenda that is not popular by the citizens.

  • August 22, 2008

    3:01 p.m.

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    KenB writes:

    One thing that no one has mentioned, as far as I'm aware, is the problem this initiative creates for parents with problem children. I have known parents who tried everything they could think of to rein in kids who just don't care who they hurt or what trouble they cause. These parents have tried things such as not allowing their teenagers to get driver's licenses. Does that bother the kids? No, they steal their parents' cars and sometimes wreck them.

    I voted against this initiative because I don't see any reason why a parent who is trying desperately to influence their child for the better should get stuck paying to bail out the car their kids took without their knowledge or permission. If you want to impound the cars of illegal aliens that's one thing. But this measure doesn't stop there.