AURORA POLICE TO IMPOUND CARS IN DRUG-PARAPHERNALIA ARRESTS

Vehicles in which someone is arrested for possession of drug
paraphernalia now will be impounded by Aurora police.

The Aurora City Council on Tuesday added the offense to a long list of
crimes for which vehicles are impounded. The owner will have to pay
$500 or post a bond of equal value to retrieve the vehicle, plus pay a
$75 towing fee and $15-a-day storage costs.

If the person is convicted, the $500 bond or payment will be
forfeited.

Other violations for which the impound fee is $500 include crimes
involving drugs, weapons, violence and prostitution.

Ald. Ken Hinterlong, chairman of the Government Operations Committee
that recommended the drug-paraphernalia measure, said community
policing officers thought the offense should be treated in a manner
similar to drug possession.

Vehicles also are impounded for violations of city noise and curfew
ordinances and for possession of open alcohol. The impound fee in
those cases is $250.

The noise ordinance is violated if sound systems can be heard 75 feet
from the vehicle. That offense also carries a $75 fine.

City officials also considered impounding vehicles for drunken-driving
offenses but decided against that for now.

The city began impounding cars in late 1992. At the time, officials
said impoundments would serve as an extra deterrent for some crimes
that do not always result in serious punishment in the court system.