One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Undocumented Immigrants Could Lose Their Cars Over Speeding Tickets (Again)
Tow truck by Shutterstock
Following a court defeat, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck this weekend ended the department's Special Order 7, which told officers not to impound vehicles of unlicensed drivers who have insurance, valid ID and no other violations related to unlicensed driving.
For undocumented immigrants, Special Order 7 kept routine traffic stops for minor violations from becoming life-ruining events with fees running over $1,000. But a state court judge recently ruled that Special Order 7 violates state law.
The city of L.A. has not yet announced if it will appeal that ruling, the L.A. Times reports. But Beck is rescinding the policy for the time being, although he still supports it.
“It's not so much that I am a dove on immigration,” Beck told the Times. “It's that I'm a realist. I recognize that this is the population that I police. If I can take steps -- legal steps -- to make them a better population to police, then I will.”
However, the police department's own union, alongside national conservative legal activists, challenged Special Order 7 in court.
Tyler Izen, president of the union, said in an interview, "I always believed that what the chief was doing was not the solution to a problem that I agree needs to be addressed."
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
