City Council
MEETING DATE: 12/10/2014
TITLE:
Title
DUI Impound VICR Fee Resolution
End
FROM:
Kevin H. Conner, Police Chief
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
This item is presented for Council discussion and direction.
Body
BACKGROUND:
Over the past year, the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) Public Safety Committee has been working on regional efforts to address Driving Under the Influence (DUI). A DUI Ad Hoc Task Force was formed, comprised of local law enforcement, elected officials and representatives from community based organizations. Through its research, the Task Force drafted a Model Ordinance/Resolution, which financially impacts drivers who choose to drink and drive, and are involved in an auto accident resulting in the impound and towing of their vehicle. The draft Model Ordinance was passed by the Public Safety Committee in April 2014, and recommended for adoption by the member jurisdictions.
Vehicle Code Section 22850.5, added by Assembly Bill 481, Chapter 614 Statutes of 1993, became effective January 1st, 1994, and specifically authorizes cities by ordinance or resolution to establish an administrative charge relative to the removal, impound, storage, or release of vehicles. The City of Cathedral City has this vehicle impound cost recovery (VICR) fee already in place.
The proposed DUI/VICR Resolution creates a vehicle impound cost recovery fee directly related to DUI drivers involved in traffic collisions. The approval of the fee would reimburse the City for the expense incurred in these specific types of investigations, which can be costly in terms of personnel time. As an example, the City of Indian Wells, which contracts with the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, currently has a $671 DUI/VICR fee, which is based on the current Riverside County Sheriff contract rates for police services.
Currently, the City of Cathedral City has existing VICR fees in place, which apply to unlicensed...
Click here for full text