Beck Defends His Plan Not to Impound Unlicensed Drivers’ Vehicles

On Monday, we polled our readers about a hot-button issue for which LAPD Chief Charlie Beck has been drawing considerable flack lately: Should the vehicles of unlicensed drivers be impounded?

If Beck's proposal becomes the law, the vehicles of unlicensed drivers—who are often undocumented immigrants—will be released if licensed drivers claim the vehicles. The idea is to allow families of first-time offenders to continue to perform such essential tasks as driving to work, shopping for food and taking children to school.

Our poll drew 208 votes—overwhelmingly in favor of impounding the vehicles of unlicensed drivers.

As many as 195 readers (93 percent) agreed with the assertion that unlicensed drivers are threat to public safety and need to be punished accordingly.

Just 13 readers (6 percent) disagreed.

Meanwhile, Chief Beck has been defending his proposed reversal of the LAPD’s longstanding “impound policy”—which the Los Angeles Police Commission will consider on February 14 before any change in the policy is made.

"If I had any inkling that what we were doing is illegal or a hazard to the public, then I wouldn't do it," Beck was quoted Thursday in the L.A. Daily News. His proposal, the police chief said, was developed after consultations with immigration rights groups as well as local prosecutorial agencies.

Read the full Daily News report here.