Police Charge Impound Fees for Cars That Were Not Towed
One woman's tragic story has brought to light a little known police practice. Kathie LaFond was driving to pick up her boyfriend, who was drunk and could not drive, when she was pulled over by police and arrested for driving on a suspended license. Police allowed her boyfriend, who was clearly intoxicated, to drive her car and her son home while she was booked in jail. As she was being processed, her boyfriend ran the car into a tree, killing her 5 year old son. Now, she is being charged more than $500 for an impound that never occurred.
In Chicago Heights, it is standard practice to charge an impound fee for crimes involving a vehicle, even if the car never gets towed. The local law enforcement view it as an additional punishment as opposed to payment for a towing. Other officials say the practice is unfair, but it continues.
LaFond says she was so eager to leave the station that she didn't look at the forms she was signing, and because of the tragic accident, did not look at them again after her arrest. Although she missed the hearing in which she could have disputed the charges, LaFond is refusing to pay.
Contact a Chicago Criminal Defense Lawyer at Acosta, Batovski & Schmiege if you have been arrested.