AURORA | Aurora’s new “three-strike” traffic law has resulted in almost 300 cars being impounded since October, highlighting one “strike” over the others — fake temporary license plates.
Aurora police started enforcing the new “three-strikes” Aurora law Nov. 5. The law requires police to tow and impound vehicles of drivers who are simultaneously committing three traffic offenses behind the wheel: no driver’s license, no proof of insurance and no valid license plate.
The new law was sponsored by Councilmember Stephanie Hancock, who said she was prompted by complaints about road safety.
The Aurora Police Department began impounding vehicles for the triple violations in November. During this time, they carried out a host of special enforcement actions. Many of the impounds, however, have resulted during routine traffic patrols, police said.
Between Nov. 1 and Dec. 18, Aurora police have towed 290 vehicles of drivers deemed violating the new law, according to police spokesperson Joe Moylan. The number has increased by 100 in just the last two weeks.
Drivers caught without the three required documents can retrieve their vehicles only after presenting proof of registration, insurance and a valid driver’s license — or bringing a licensed driver on their behalf along with valid registration and insurance— within 30 days.
After 30 days, the cars are seized and sold at a police auction, according to the new ordinance. It’s unclear if any cars have been permanently seized so far from the enforcement.
Offenders are able to bring required documents to the city car impound lot to retrieve their vehicle. Ticketed drivers must also appear for a court date, providing the required documents and face fines.
Under this new rule, the vehicle impoundment is $240. The police department administration fee is $47.25, and the tow-lot storage fee is $40 a day. According to Moylan, contract towing companies are also entitled to a one-time $150 fee. This fee applies to vehicles impounded for three or more days. Added together, it means scofflaws face fines that start at more than $400. If the car is left in impound for a month, that could add another $1,200. In addition those ticketed face court fines for each traffic infraction, no license, no registration and no insurance.
When asked what happens to people who have everything updated but are unable to find documents after being pulled over, Aurora City Attorney Pete Schulte said that officers can verify remotely if everything is up to date.
“In Colorado, pretty much every state now, active insurance is reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles, and it is on the registration when an officer runs it,” he said.
Sgt. Scott Benedict, a department supervisor, said those ticketed with strikes” are pulled over for many reasons, missing license plates, speeding and a host of other traffic infractions. .
“It’s a variety of everything,” he said.
He said that officers confronting drivers with no license, registration or insurance say they’re aware of state traffic laws, but motorists are shocked when their cars are towed.
“I think a lot of people know that it’s already a possibility, and then when they actually get their car towed because of their status — as far as not having the required documentation — I think the reality of it kind of sinks in,” Benedict said.
Benedict said that while police so far have not analyzed the data, violators, the location, suspected offenses and even the drivers themselves .
“It’s not specific to one area,” he said. “It’s pretty widespread with these violations into the demographics of the people that were contacted.”
Although the new law is tripped by violating all three driver requirements at the same time, some of the violations carry bigger fines than others.
Possessing or displaying “fictitious” temporary tags — that dated piece of paper you get when you buy a vehicle — carries a larger fine than simply having an expired license plate, as it represents a “false claim of legitimacy,” Benedict said.
Fake temporary tags or license plates can be purchased online at places advertised on Facebook and other social media sites. Benedict said the Department of Motor Vehicles is the only legitimate place to buy temporary tags.
He said that while the department tries to educate the public, it maintains a zero-tolerance policy for these fraudulent practices. Benedict said he wants to continue to find as many ways as possible to tell all residents in Aurora that temporary tags or plates bought on Facebook are fraudulent.
The insurance of it all
The sponsor of the new Aurora law, Hancock, has talked recently about ensuring motorists are ensured as being a big part of the inspiration of pushing the measure into law.
Colorado has a high rate of uninsured drivers, at 17.5%, ranking it ninth out of 50 states in 2022, according to the Insurance Research Council.
“The cost of insurance has impacted our city in a negative way,” Hancock said at the end of a council meeting Dec. 16. “So much so that some of the carriers have left the area and will not insure anymore. This is because we’ve had so many claims for people who are driving uninsured.”
State officials and available data say that’s inaccurate.
Hancock made similar claims at a Council meeting on Sept. 23 that insurance companies were leaving the state because of uninsured motorists issues.
George Daley, a senior regulatory analyst for the Colorado Division of Insurance, said he has not heard of companies leaving Colorado or Aurora because of uninsured drivers, but he has heard of rates going up drastically.
“Auto Insurance is pretty straightforward,” he said. “It’s a very simple cause and effect; If you have more people who are worse drivers, who are not insured as they’re supposed to be, chances are you’re just going to be paying really high rates. They don’t necessarily pull out.”
Colorado is what is known as a rates-on-file state, he said. This means that the state does not approve rates in terms; companies let the state know how they’re changing the rate and then charge it.
“So I think a bigger concern would not necessarily be whether or not they’re pulling out, but how much they’re increasing premiums,” he said.
and that could be as much as $300,000 in revenue split with the impound lot and the city. Good money. And all they had to do was follow the law.
As a retired resident who pays high insurance rates, keeps a valid license, and maintains auto registration every year, I appreciate this law. Having a car is expensive, but if you drive, you must follow the rules. Thanks to APD for enforcing the new law!
I am glad to hear that Aurora is cracking down on people running around with expired license plates. I figured there was good chance the party would be driving with no license or insurance. I hope the police department can continue the program for a long time to come.
Thanks to the ambulance chasers that get you millions for your accident claim, the legislators that do not punish car theft, and the poor drivers that don’t want to pay for their own insurance, we are faced with paying higher rates. Share the blame and make changes for the majority of drivers.
Most accident victims LOSE money. In fact, victims should be awarded the car of the at-fault driver to pay their medical bills. How’s that for Justice?
PS: The lawyers only get rich when they cherry-pick the best cases.
You have to wonder why is it that the same Council members Murillo, Combs, always would rather have turmoil than to accept what most of us want and expect living in a community where we all are responsible enough to follow some simple common-sense laws. And perhaps some control back on the streets that promotes mutual respect to others. Those that share the road through financial and legal responsibilities. Watching the September city council meeting related to the passing of the 2024-64. This item three-strikes impound ordinance owed to your own poor decisions operating a car in Aurora was debated. These two socialists are unwilling to vote for a regulation that disciplines countless individuals’ behavior that has made the rest of us be forced to subsidize proper self- coverage because of the law breakers through doubled insurance rates and put up with a general couldn’t care less attitude on the streets. Thank you- no responsibility -no consequences to finally make this happen.
I suggested this enforcement over a year ago, in this very space.
But, there’s one important thing missing; severe punishment for repeated speed and red light running scofflaws.
If you are a chronic rule breaker (doughnuts, racing, Reckless driving, hit and run, etc): you get your car towed AND auctioned off to help pay for enforcement.
These knuckleheads pour thousands of dollars into their vehicles, ignore our pollution laws by modifying the exhaust and use dark tint to hide from enforcement. Hit ’em where it hurts most: take their car.
That Aurora, for setting a good example to Denver in having the balls to actually enforce traffic laws.
There are two important considerations in maintaining control in a system. The first is that the only thing worse than not having laws, is to have laws and not enforce them. The corollary to this is that a law is only as good as the consequence used to enforce it. I hope that Aurora continues to take enforcement of the laws seriously throughout the year rather than just for temporary periods.
This is great news. I appreciate this effort and hope it spreads to all of Colorado. Tow, impound and auction, yes!!!
Why isn’t he city of aurora being indicted on a COCA (colorado organized crime act ) for racketeering aggravated motor vehicle thefr and extortion . Anyone who has any bit of intelligence if they were to look at the criminal statute definitions will see this apply to the city they ate not above the law someone spends 1000 to 40000 on a vehicle and then had a life changing event causing financial hardship can fall in this category has anyone even considered this we already paid for the use of the roads and ability to drive and 80% are nit driving commercially what is a colorado Comercial drivers license most are struggling to survive in this state of beurocracy and laws and taxation the government isn’t for profit but they are corporations now committing fraud theft and extortion daily that any non government entity would be in prison for the same crimes those that are struggling to survive this state is pathetic the steeple are. Even more pathetic supporting this ongoing criminal enterprise you are all the ones at the roman coliseum cheering the death and humiliation as those without roman status and underprivileged that get thrown to the lions simply for not being lucky enough to be born on palentine hill this country is gnna fall as did Rome do to corruption and the royalty being to big and greedy they can take your homes also with absurd public nucience laws and no care for the equity that the citizens or slaves have in their real property why don’t the law makers return the money gained from the cars sale at auction and return the personal belongings that end up being used in white collar crime just ad the act of siezing the vehicle is a white collar crime I want to file a federal indictment on the county city and state for this ongoing pattern of racketeering and extortion but the steeple are blinded by the coliseum state sponsored executions not everyone can afford recovering from a life changing event especially if they have children what are another commodity of the states criminal enterprise full of corruption anyone ever looked into C.R.I.S.
if steeple could even understand the court system is rigged a casino or chance and big money by prostituting the citizens and their children to the stock market where do all these profits go ? Maybe they should go to providing the people who go about there personal agenda and personal life being a traveler unimpeded by any authorities blockages checkpoints and loose everything due to financial hardship that the government then makes even more profits while dragging them through a false court that has overstepped and mutinized our legal system the paid lawyers the public defenders all of those criminals they’re loyalty lie to the court not the citizens they supposedly represent why do they refuse call case law into effect for most all cases one specific trinsey vs pagliaro but when brought up they run and hide and refuse to object with it why idk but a prosecutor has no first hand knowledge and is either a witness or a prosecutor the courts would be upheaved if everyone was to cite this case law into objection of all civil and criminal courts but then they would be going against those they kneel to and therefore the judges and all those under would not have the income gained from said criminal activity but keep watching scripted sports and reality shows instead of congressional public hearings where they strip us of our rights more and more every day and cheer the l lawmakers when they raise a fine or punishment to levels of a dictatorship regime your all a bunch of idiot weak bootkissers
Simple, take the bus.
Simple, pay the same fees and taxes as everyone else. You’re not special.
Simple, protect OTHERS from your negligence by carrying the proper insurance.
Simple, sell your modified car and buy a cheaper model.
Simple, move to Texas, Oklahoma or back to California; we’re fed up with your twisted view of your “rights” and your driving behavior.