City tows 25 unlicensed drivers

By Staff
Jonathan Willis
Less than two weeks after city officials implemented a plan to rid the streets of unlicensed motorists, a difference is already being made.
Russellville police officers have had 25 vehicles towed since Jan. 3 when an ordinance went into effect that allows the department to impound the vehicle of anyone caught driving without a valid driver's license.
"It is going good," Russellville Police Chief Chris Hargett said.
City officials are following the lead of other north Alabama cities, including Florence and Athens, who passed similar ordinances in 2007.
"If you don't have a driver's license for any reason, your car will be towed," Hargett said.
The law is for people who are knowingly driving without a license. People who accidentally forget their license would need to provide positive identification so police can verify their license status through a database.
"There is no way of knowing if someone has a driver's license or not until we pull them over," Hargett said. "So it is just being done as part of our routine traffic enforcement."
The ordinance contains certain exceptions that would prevent a vehicle from being towed. If a licensed driver is inside the vehicle or if the driver can prove that they are driving because of a medical emergency, the vehicle will not be towed.
"A lot of complaints that we get are from citizens who have been hit by people without a driver's license or insurance," Hargett said. "If we catch someone without a license then we can impound the vehicle."
Officials said state laws prohibit officers from towing vehicles because they are uninsured. The ordinance could only be written to include those without driver's licenses.
To retrieve an impounded car, the owner will have to present a valid driver's license and proof of insurance to Russellville police. They also must pay a $25 administrative fee.
The vehicle owner may then take the release form from the police station to the wrecker service holding the vehicle to retrieve the automobile.
The driver will have to pay for all towing and storage fees. If the owner is unable to claim a vehicle within 60 days of the date it is impounded, the wrecker service will auction the vehicle.