Your vehicle can be impounded for any number of justifiable reasons, from "double parking" to using ridiculously loud stereos. But surprisingly, your car won't be towed if you drive on a suspended or revoked license.
Instead, offenders pay fines and penalties. But too often, they walk out of the courthouse and drive home, no more than 15 minutes after a judge told them not to.
Transportation Committee Chairman Tom Allen (38th) is prepared to change that, proposing an ordinance once again to the City Council. He introduced the idea once before, two years ago.
"Last time, they said there was no room in the auto pounds. There was also concern about using impoundment to punish someone whose license was suspended for auto emissions," Allen told the Sun-Times. "It's time to implement this ordinance… It could help reduce some of the violence on our streets."
According to former Deputy Chief of Patrol Michael McCotter, in 2007, one-third of all accidents resulting in deaths or serious injuries involved at least one motorist driving on a suspended or revoked license.
The Police and Traffic Committees will meet Wednesday to discuss the proposed ordinance.
Matt Bartosik, editor of Off the Rocks' next issue and "between blogs" blogger, can't stand motorists who double-park with hazard lights on main thoroughfares. Picking up a to-go coffee is not an emergency.
