The Moody Police Department is soon to be operating under the SAFE Streets Ordinance geared to removing unlicensed drivers from the city’s streets.The Moody City Council approved the ordinance during last week’s council meeting and it will become effective after its April 24 publication.
The SAFE Streets Ordinance allows the police department to impound a vehicle if the person driving it has a revoked or suspended driver license, or if the license is more than 90 days past its renewal date.
“It doesn’t do us any good to write someone a ticket for a revoked license and them let them drive away,” Capt. David Higgins said.
Higgins said the ordinance also allows the city to charge a $50 administrative fee before a car can be reclaimed from impound. The person claiming the vehicle must also pay all the associated impound fees to the wrecker service that picked up and stored the vehicle before they can claim it.
“This doesn’t put us in the business of storing vehicles,” Higgins said. “But it does allow us a way to recoup the man hours we spend with these people.”
Higgins said if the department impounds a vehicle under the SAFE Street Ordinance, the officer will make sure the driver and passengers of the vehicle are taken to a safe place to await transportation.
“We’re not going to leave people standing on the side of the road,” he said. “But we have to exercise due diligence for the good of public safety.”
Council members voted unanimous approval for the ordinance.
