Senate OKs Tougher Auto Seizure Law in DUI Cases Legislation: Measure would ignore who owned the car, except for rented and stolen vehicles.
|
|
[Bill Lockyer], chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, told the Senate that an estimated 1 million California motorists whose drivers licenses have been suspended or revoked for drunk driving continue to drive illegally, “drinking and still causing collisions and injuries.” Currently, a vehicle owned by a convicted drunk driver can be impounded during the time his license is taken away. But Lockyer argued that judges are reluctant to confiscate vehicles, especially if they are jointly owned by a spouse or someone else who may need transportation. Lockyer said later that the proposal faced a bleak future in the Assembly because Chairman John L. Burton of the Public Safety Committee strongly opposes it. Burton frequently sides with civil libertarians on such issues. However, Lockyer said, “maybe I’ll get half a loaf out of John.” Source : pqasb.pqarchiver.com |