Repeal impound law, say 2 on council - The Denver Post

Repeal impound law, say 2 on council - The Denver Post
A vehicle impound law for unlicensed drivers should be repealed because it is clogging the city's impound lot, two Denver council members say.

Council members Paul Lopez and Doug Linkhart say Initiative 100 has ended up becoming a bureaucratic nightmare for the city — and for those whose cars get towed under the new law. The two opposed the initiative when it was on the ballot in 2008.

"The problem is that the ordinance doesn't pay for itself," Lopez said. "It's costing taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars just to implement, and fewer cars are getting towed to the impound lot that ends up being over capacity."

Supporters point out that the law charges drivers a land acquisition fee in order to create another impound lot, and a city budget analysis shows that doing so would boost revenues.

Lopez is working with the city attorney's office on drafting a repeal to the measure. The council can repeal or make revisions six months after voters approve an initiative.

Proposal expected next week

On Wednesday, Lopez plans to bring a proposal to the council's safety committee, which will be chaired by Linkhart.

The move angers the initiative's supporters, who say Denver officials are too lenient on unlicensed driving.