Auto insurance policy called racist?

Dallas officials to discuss new impound policy for uninsured vehicles
Dave Levinthal
Apr 03, 2008 (The Dallas Morning News - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --


Dallas officials remain starkly divided on whether police should impound the vehicles of motorists who cannot produce proof of insurance during routine traffic stops.

Today, the city only impounds uninsured vehicles after responding to traffic accidents. And as the council hurdles toward a planned formal vote later this month, both supporters and opponents of a proposed impoundment expansion say they're not sure which way the vote will go.

District 13 council member Mitchell Rasansky remains the body's most vocal policy advocate, saying that increased impoundment of uninsured vehicles will protect the health and property of people who own valid auto insurance.

"And when people know that their car is going to get towed, they're going to start getting insurance," Mr. Rasansky told his council colleagues during an hourlong debate on the issue Wednesday at City Hall.

"I just can't imagine that you pull somebody over, and they don't have proof of insurance or a driver license, and you let them drive away," said District 11 council member Linda Koop, the body's transportation and environment committee chairwoman.

"They choose not to do it ... and I end up paying for it," District 10 council member Jerry Allen said of uninsured motorists.

The council is scheduled to vote on the proposed policy April 23. And while some council members such as Mayor Tom Leppert remain undecided, the policy is destined to face stiff opposition. District 7 council member Carolyn Davis, for example, argued Wednesday that the proposed impoundment policy would target racial and ethnic minorities, who police say compose the greatest number of Dallas drivers without insurance.

She suggested that police first provide uninsured drivers a warning, then tow their cars upon a second offense.

"This really affects African Americans and Hispanics. ... it's another way to go about harassing young African American males," Ms. Davis said. "It doesn't solve the problem."

District 5 council member Vonciel Jones Hill also opposed the impoundment plan, but for different reasons. "This is not a racial issue, it's an economic issue. People don't have insurance because they can't afford it," Ms. Hill said, adding that impounding poor people's cars creates cyclical problems where they are stripped of their ability to work, and therefore, earn money.

Mayor Pro Tem Elba Garcia, meanwhile, said the expanded impoundment policy would lead to an overburdened auto pound.

The draft policy's background material acknowledges the possibility of crowding, calling for the auto pound to be closed to cars towed for no proof of insurance if the pound is 90 percent full. Today, the pound is 63 percent full, on average, according to city records.

Such a towing policy wouldn't be cheap, either: Early city estimates peg first-year revenue losses at about $1.56 million. By the policy's second year, estimates suggest the city would earn $440,500. The program is unlikely to break even for several years.

Official are estimating that about 35,000 additional vehicles a year will be towed if the department begins towing vehicles that don't have insurance -- about 96 additional cars per day.

In April 2006, Dallas Police Department began towing vehicles without insurance following traffic accidents. Police had estimated prior to the program's inception that about 30 vehicles a day would be towed -- but police today say they're only towing nine or 10 vehicles a day. Meanwhile, police officers issue about 75,000 citations a year for no insurance.

Currently, about 124 vehicles are towed to the pound each day. The pound has about 2,400 spaces, and on any given day, about 1,500 spaces are filled.

In other council news, the city's Code Compliance Department requested an 8 percent boost in funding this year to assist in reorganizing the troubled department.

Acting Code Compliance Director Forest Turner needs more than $1.8 million to help pay for a plan that would shift code compliance offices from central locations downtown and in South Dallas into five districts of the city, potentially saving code officers hours of travel time per day and keeping them on the streets longer.

Several council members let Mr. Turner know how angry they are about the city's ongoing struggle with enforcing code, particularly in poorer areas of the city. Despite frustration over the department's history, the council appeared ready to support Mr. Turner's request of additional funds.

The council also expressed support for a plan to create an electronic campaign finance filing system, which City Secretary Deborah Watkins recently proposed. Ms. Watkins says the system, a cost estimate for which has not been solidified, could be operational by July.