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Towing of all uninsured vehicles gets council OK
BY DAN EAKIN, Staff Writer
People who drive uninsured vehicles in Lewisville could unexpectedly soon find themselves afoot.
The Lewisville City Council voted 4-1 Monday night for a police policy change to allow for the towing of vehicles of motorists who fail to provide proof of financial responsibility.
Councilman Rudy Durham cast the only dissenting vote.
After the meeting, he said, “I read in a newspaper that this is a way to get to illegal immigrants.”
Police Chief Russ Kerbow defended the policy change.
“By issuing a ticket and letting them drive off, we are allowing them to continue to break the law,” he said.
Kerbow also said uninsured drivers cause insured drivers to pay higher premiums.
He said 5,746 tickets were issued during the fiscal 2006-07 year in Lewisville for failure to maintain financial responsibility. However, he said 2,893 were later dismissed in court after the drivers produced proof of insurance.
He said drivers who later prove there was an error will not be charged for towing or impound fees.
Pro-Tow Wrecker Service and Brad’s Towing Service take turns every other week in towing and impounding vehicles for the city.
Proving whether a vehicle is insured will be easier after Jan. 1, Kerbow said, when the Texas Department of Insurance will start making its data base available to law enforcement on a 24-hour basis.
Kerbow said the police officer will be able to find out when the insurance went into force, and if it has expired.
“Now, we are pretty well limited to checking with insurance companies between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.,” he said.
He said if someone does not have an insurance card, but knows who their insurance agent is, the officer can try to contact the insurance agent to confirm proof of insurance during daytime hours.
Mayor Pro Tem Dean Ueckert noted that it is also possible for someone to have a proof of insurance card, even though the insurance has actually expired. With the new data after Jan. 1, an officer can check on the computer if that is suspected.
As in the past, police officers will be allowed to use discretion as to when a vehicle may not be towed, Kerbow said.
“If police stop a woman with three screaming kids, and she has no insurance, the officer may allow her to drive further,” Kerbow said. “If an elderly person is from out of town and does not know our policy, his vehicle might not be towed.”
Mayor Gene Carey said, “I know our police well enough to know they will not leave anyone stranded.”
Councilman David Thornhill asked Kerbow about the amount of time officers will have to spend under the new policy.
Kerbow assured the council that the new policy will not strongly deter police from their regular duties.
Kerbow said Tuesday morning that a decision has not yet been made as to exactly when the policy change will go into effect.
“It may be before the holidays, or it may not be until after the first of the year,” he said. “There will have to be police training first.”
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
Jeff wrote on Nov 21, 2007 12:36 PM:
" That is shameful to play the illegal immigrant card. This is about people who are breaking the law. Lots of US citizens get a 1 month policy to get a card, then let it expire. We need to get these ILLEGALS (drivers, that is!) off the roads! "
Linda wrote on Nov 24, 2007 2:06 PM:
" It's about time. Why bother to make laws if they are not going to be enforced. This law is for everyone to abide by...US citizen and illegal immigrant. We all pay the price when an uninsured motorist is involved in an accident...the mandatory $250 deductible for uninsured motorist property damage (if the person hit did not exclude this coverage since it's been a law since 1982 that all vehicles are to be insured) and then there's the cost of insurance on the next renewal. "
Susan wrote on Nov 26, 2007 8:51 AM:
" As the victim of two crashes caused by uninsured motorists, I applaud any effort to make it more difficult for people to drive without insurance. After those two wrecks, I had to pay two deductibles and my own insurance company had to pay about $40,000. The only ones who got away with absolutely no cost were the two uninsured motorists who caused the accidents! That is just wrong!!! "
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