LUNA Letter to Sheriff re Vehicle Impoundments

February 12, 2011
Via Fax and Mail

Sheriff Douglas Koford
County Sheriff Building
1535 Airport Boulevard
Napa, CA 94558
Fax: 707 253 4193

Dear Sheriff Koford,

Latinos Unidos del Valle de Napa y Solano is a public benefit corporation which has been representing, informing and assisting Latinos in Napa and Solano Counties for more than ten years.

We have received complaints from residents of Napa County concerning police seizures
of vehicles because drivers do not have a valid drivers license. As you know, losing a car or truck is a devastating economic loss to a lower income family. That car or truck is crucial to getting to work, and without work, the family will be homeless and destitute.

We understand that Sheriffs Deputies have an obligation to enforce state and local laws, including those which prohibit persons who do not have licenses from driving. But it does not follow that cars and trucks operated by persons who do not have licenses must be impounded.

Many law enforcement agencies recognize the extreme hardship which impounding these
vehicles entails and have developed policies which allow friends or family members who have valid licenses to retrieve the vehicles. We would appreciate hearing about the policies which the Sheriff's Department has concerning impoundment of vehicles.
Please consider this letter to be a request pursuant to the California Public Records Act to review documents concerning any poicies which the Sheriffs Department currently has in place relating to impoundment of vehicles where the driver does not have a valid drivers license.

We would also welcome an opportunity to meet with you to discuss this issue and others that affect Latinos in Napa County.

Sincerely,
/s/
Hector Olvera, President
Latinos Unidos del Valle de Napa y Solano