Herndon Mayor suggesting impoundment of vehicles driven by unlicensed drivers on 2nd offense.
In today’s Outlook section of the Washington Post, Herndon Mayor Steve DeBenedittis addresses a problem that’s been growing in this area: illegal drivers. By “illegal” I mean people operating motor vehicles without a license. As in, they have no license at all as opposed to just having left it in their other suit.
In 2007, our town’s police force issued more than 700 citations to drivers for operating vehicles without valid licenses. During the same period, Fairfax County — in which we are located — issued approximately 10,000 citations, and the state as a whole issued 60,000. These numbers are projected to increase this year.
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The law in Virginia allows for the impoundment of vehicles in certain instances when drivers are found to have revoked or suspended licenses. Herndon is requesting that the General Assembly pass legislation to amend this law to allow for administrative impoundment of vehicles driven by people being charged for a second time or more for driving without a license, following a conviction for a first offense. We are proposing that in such cases, vehicles should be impounded for 30 days, and that offenders be held responsible for the cost of impounding and storing the vehicles. Jurisdictions that do not have storage facilities could use private towing and storage contractors.
Given Herndon’s actions in the past couple of years, I can imagine the illegal alien support groups warming up their choirs. Not so fast, folks.
Unlicensed drivers do not represent a socioeconomic problem. Nor is their immigration status relevant. Simply put, it’s all about safety. Drivers who operate vehicles without the training required to obtain a license and without basic knowledge of the rules of the road represent a significant safety hazard to the millions of drivers who travel on our roads.
The key word here is “driver” not “immigrant.” The Mayor’s suggestion is to put in place a procedure that doesn’t know or care what the immigration/citizenship status of a given driver is. It’s all about whether or not they’re driving without a license. Personally, given the people I share the roads with on a daily basis, I think anyone who’s not licensed ought to have their cars impounded on the 1st go-around. They aren’t licensed. What are they doing on the bloody road? The article mentions 2 states that do exactly that but the Mayor’s obviously feeling that this is a bit too harsh. Fine. I’ll support his 2nd-strike-and-we-keep-the-car approach.
You guys in the General Assembly listening?
