Roll out the wheelbarrow. They are going to need it at the Woodstock Police Department.
The PD raked in another $10,500 in vehicle impoundment fees. Woodstock Police had to impound 21 vehicles in May to create that take. Considering that Chief Lowen told the City Manager in a letter on January 3 that he thought they might impound 50 vehicles in the first year, he's running quite a bit ahead of schedule.
Is that good? NO!
The total ripped out of wallets and purses so far this year is $39,000. That's for 78 vehicles impounded under the City's new ordinance that was quietly passed in mid-January, unanimously and without discussion.
According to a news article, at least four people has lost their vehicles. If you can't afford $500 plus $150 tow plus storage (probably $40/day), you lose your car. After 35 days, your car is declared abandoned. So you will owe the tow yard $1,400 (35 x $40) + $150 = $1,550.
And you'll still owe Woodstock $500. And you'll no longer have a car. If you needed the car to get to work, so long, J-o-b.
Remember to thank City Hall on the way out of town.
Is there a scorecard at Woodstock Police Department? Do officers get gold stars by their names, if they are in the Top Producers group?
Since officers have discretion to impound a vehicle, in how many cases has discretion been exercised? Maybe the police department will include that statistic, or maybe the Mayor or a member of the City Council will quiz Chief Lowen on that number - every month.
Ya think? Probably not.
You never know who is interested…
3 months ago
4 comments:
When are you running for City Council?
You serious? Never!
And not for Executive Director at the Chamber of Commerce, either!
I know that I am not an Organization Man or a good committee person.
If I'd been on the committee that was ordered to design a horse, we would have ended up with a horse - not with a zebra!
Let's not forget these fees are collected from DUI and suspended or revoked drivers. If you don't like the fees don't drive drunk or with out a valid license. Illinois law and judges are soft on these violations. If these fees keep bad drivers of the road what's your beef?
Here's the beef. In a case last week, a woman loaned her car to a neighbor, so he could go to pay his cable bill. He got stopped for a headlight out; his license was suspended. HER car got impounded. She could have walked a mile to the car to drive it home. Instead, ka-ching, ka-ching. $500 + $150 + $40 x ? days...
Post a Comment