Los Angeles Police To Ignore Impound Law They Say Is Unfair To Illegal Immigrants

The Los Angeles Police Department has announced they will no longer follow the State Law of California. State Law requires police to impound the vehicles of unlicensed drivers for thirty days. The Los Angeles Police are saying that the law is unfair because it limits the ability for illegal immigrants to get to work and imposes a fine on them to get their car back.

Police Chief Charlie Beck says it is all about fairness, and under his new doctrine as long as someone can produce an ID, proof of insurance and vehicle registration they can keep their cars.

Beck told an LA radio station earlier this month,

“It’s about fairness. It’s about equal application of the law,”

Opponents of Beck’s doctrine are justifiably furious. Studies done by AAA show unlicensed drivers are 5 times more likely to kill someone and 5 times more likely to leave the scene of an accident.

Los Angeles District Attorney Steve Cooley wrote Chief Beck, letting him know that State law trumps municipal law. Beck said he didn’t care because it isn’t about the law but doing the right thing.

Cardinal Roger Mahony, former Archbishop of Los Angeles and an immigration activist said,

“A low-income person doesn’t have the ability to pay the fees after 30 days to get their car back. 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.

Immigration Advocate say this is proof the State need to grant driver’s license to everyone.

Do you think illegal immigrants should get their licenses no matter their status?