Bill Would Let Police Impound Vehicles of Unlicensed Drivers

Motorists who fail to produce a valid driver’s license when stopped for a traffic violation would have their cars impounded if a bill narrowly approved by the Assembly becomes law.

A 41-24 vote, the exact majority needed for approval, sent the bill (AB 3148) by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sylmar) to the Senate.

Impounded vehicles would be returned within 72 hours if a valid driver’s license is acquired. After that time, vehicles would be sold at public auction with proceeds divided between local and state police agencies.

A Department of Motor Vehicles study estimates that 75% of motorists whose licenses are suspended for drunk driving continue to drive and are involved in 15% of all fatal car accidents, according to Katz.

“Innocent people are being killed at the hands of unlicensed drivers,” he said, “and it has got to stop.”

ASSEMBLY

Floor Action

* Attorney Advertising: Reversed itself and sent to the Senate on a 52-14 vote a bill (AB 3659) by Assemblyman Paul Horcher (R-Diamond Bar) imposing restrictions on what lawyers can promise prospective clients in their television and radio advertisements. The bill was amended after being defeated last month.

* Contraceptive Devices: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 41-26 vote a bill (AB 3729) by Assemblyman Burt Margolin (D-Los Angeles) requiring health insurance plans to cover the cost of contraceptive care for women, including birth control devices.

* Health Care: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 41-31 vote a bill (AB 3681) by Margolin prohibiting health-care plans from awarding bonuses to insurance company employees who deny expensive medical care to patients to save money.

* Workplace Safety: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 41-30 vote a bill (AB 3230) by Assemblywoman Barbara Friedman (D-North Hollywood) instructing the Occupational Safety and Standards Board to adopt guidelines to protect employees against violence in the workplace.

* Tattoo Standards: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 42-31 vote a bill (AB 3787) by Assemblywoman Valerie Brown (D-Sonoma) requiring the Department of Health Services to establish minimum sanitation, sterilization and safety standards for those who do tattooing and body-piercing work.

* Curfew Fines: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 57-3 vote a bill (AB 3797) by Assemblyman Tom Umberg (D-Garden Grove) subjecting parents whose children break local curfew laws to a $50 fine.

* Lemon Autos: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 41-33 vote a bill (AB 3333) by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-Burlingame) establishing an arbitration program to help unhappy new car buyers get a replacement vehicle or their money back.

* Needle Exchange: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 42-32 vote a bill (AB 2610) by Assemblywoman Vivien Bronshvag (D-Kentfield) allowing local communities to set up pilot programs to let drug addicts exchange dirty needles for clean ones to prevent the spread of AIDS.

SENATE

Floor Action

* State Security: Passed and sent to the Assembly on a 21-13 vote a bill (SB 1932) by Sen. Nicholas Petris (D-Oakland) establishing a state task force to assess the security of all state buildings, including the Capitol.