Pingree says impound fees to bolster DUI enforcement
By Ryan Klassy For The Courier-News December 5, 2012 9:20AM
Updated: January 7, 2013 7:13AM
PINGREE GROVE — Trustees have passed an ordinance that could provide thousands of dollars for law enforcement efforts in the village.
The ordinance allows Pingree Grove police to impound vehicles for a number of offenses and charge the owner an administrative fee of up to $500 to get the vehicle back.
Included are offenses such as driving with a suspended or revoked license, driving without a license, and driving while being wanted on a warrant for a suspended license, driving under the influence, or not having a driver’s license.
The board passed a similar ordinance in August 2011, that authorized the police department to administer an impound fee for vehicles towed during a DUI arrest. A law passed by the Illinois legislature in January expanded the list of offenses for which vehicles may be impounded.
In her recommendation to the village board, Police Chief Carol Lussky said that impound fees would have generated nearly $16,000 based on arrests made in 2012. The additional revenue will be used to augment the department’s DUI enforcement efforts, including additional patrols and equipment, she said.
New sirens
In other business, trustees:
Authorized the expenditure of up to $46,000 for two emergency weather warning sirens to be added in the village within the next few months.
The village currently has just one siren. Village Administrator Ken Lopez said the board took the proactive measure to ensure that all residents are able to hear an alert in case of extreme weather or other emergency. Approved Village Clerk Michelle Figuerola’s request to appoint Lopez as deputy clerk.
Figuerola, who works a full-time job in addition to the part-time clerk’s position, made the request in order to get help with the filing of petitions for next April’s municipal elections. To get their name on the ballot, candidates are required to file with the village between Dec. 17 and Dec. 26. Lopez will not receive any additional compensation.
Three village trustee seats are up for election in April.
